“The two most important processes in making our Chardonnay are picking date and pressing,” according to David Bicknell. That emphasis on repeated pressings brings texture to the wine, especially the crunchy phenolics that are present in each of these 2012 Oakridge Chardonnays. The picking date preserves the acidity, with Bicknell aiming to capture florals and white stonefruits.
A typically steely Lusatia Park take on the grape. I tasted the 2013 version in barrel earlier this year and it was so coiled and backwards I had difficulty assessing it. No such problems with this release but make sure you give it plenty of air. There is flesh and flavour accompanying that natural acid drive. Apple blossom, white stonefruits, honeydew melon. Hints of spice and nuts. Incisive chalky finish. Fantastic gear. 95
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $38
Tasted: October 2013
I may be speaking too soon, but is there a Funder & Diamond 864 to be written up still? It was outstandingly my pick of a tasting with David at the beginning of the year, edging out Lusatia and Guerin. I say edging out; at least four of the Chardonnays on the bench could be given a Gold Medal score. Lusatia Park and Guerin’s designation as single vineyard wines at around half the clip of 864 make them ripping value.
Dave’s holding the 2012 Funder & Diamond 864 Chardonnay back for a little longer. I think he wants it to open up just a little more…or at least that’s what I remember him saying. The 2013 F&D looked terrific in barrel in August. I picked it as a wine worthy of making the 864 cut but those decisions are still to be made.
The value of these LVS Chardonnays and Pinots is off the charts. I’m a big fan of the 2012 Willowlake 864 Chardonnay though so I expect I’ll end up buying a few of them at $75 a pop too. Will try to get a review up tomorrow.
Apologies, I also had the Willow Lake marked with an apostrophe to buy. 30yo vines, tight yet monstrous, jam packed with intensity, and to quote DB, “pure as the driven snow”.
That’s pretty much my note written for me – I need only add a score