A Rodda Beechworth 'Smiths' Chardonnay 2024
The 2024 release of the ‘Smiths vineyard’ Chardonnay looks sensational! The third chardonnay we have stocked from Adrian from the 2024 vintage and his more premium offering. The wine delivers! It feels tight, complex, detailed and delicate whilst exuding powerful length and depth, elegant is an understatement. This is sure to please fans of Puligny with all the precision and verve that great white Burgundy delivers. It has the cool steely flavour profile from the revered Smith’s vineyard with tailored elevage lending expansive nutty, savoury, and flinty expanse. One of the most complete Chardonnay’s we have tasted recently and in the top echelon of Australia. Mitch Milicich, FWC
A quietly expressive bouquet of lemon pith, grapefruit peel and white nectarine is edged with flint and nutmeg, with hints of quince and gentle biscuity oak. The palate is poised and assured: stone fruit at its core, framed by granitic minerality and bright citrus acidity. A silky texture carries mealy, nutty complexity, finishing long and precise with a line of grapefruit pith. Winery note
A bit of a sleeper at first, with airy notes of flint, nutmeg and fennel coming to the fore. With a little more nudging, spiced stone-fruits and earthy wafts of fresh moss appear. The core exudes a quiet confidence, anchored by stone-fruits layered with flint, white button mushroom and sweet spices. It’s been handled with great care and judicious winemaking lets the fruit take centre stage, although pockets of complexity arise. This is a brilliant chardonnay that delivers its greatness with ease and calm 97 points – Gabrielle Poy for The Real Review.
Adrian Rodda is a naturally intuitive maker of chardonnay with an understanding of nuance, poise. Both come together here with the 550m high Smith Vineyard’s signature fruit intensity and granitic minerality. It’s a formidable combo. Lemon pith, grapefruit peel, nectarine, quince, biscuity oak and spice bring forward super fine, lifted aromas. With lively acid drive in place, the palate lights up with flavours running deep, textures smooth and a growing mealy, nutty complexity that just keeps going. Great chardonnay. 96 points – Jeni Port for Halliday Wine Companion.
