Pooley Butcher's Hill Chardonnay 2023

A single vineyard Chardonnay from the Belmont vineyard at Richmond, adjacent to the cellar door. This north facing site has elevation of 30-100 metres on dolerite and self-mulching black vertosols over sandstone. Hand-picked, Whole-bunch pressed to tank then racked to barrel. Barrel fermented (wild) for 20 days. 8 months maturation in 25% new French oak barriques (Sirugue, 36 month seasoned, Medium Toast, Fine Grain) with minimal lees stirring. 20% malolactic fermentation. Clone/s: P56, P76 and I10V1. 13.0% TA 8.62 PH 3.16. 277 dozen produced.

Lovely to get to try some Pooley wines again. Justin Bubb is a top chap and a gifted winemaker. Quite some struck match here, though it?s in balance with the volume of fruit. Lime, nougat, white flowers, a cool mint/aniseed top note, and cinnamon biscuits. It?s bright, flinty, juicy citrus acidity in with lime and white peach, almond meal richness, with a lime zesty finish of excellent length. Superb.
96 points, drink 2024-2034+, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.