2016 Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay

The Funder and Diamond Vineyard was planted in 1990 to the P58 clone and sits 240 m above sea level. The wine was from the drive block with grapes whole bunched pressed and fermented in French oak puncheons using natural yeast. The wine was aged on lees for 15 months with 20% new French oak making up the final blend.

A light yellow in the glass with a nose of pristine white peach with fig, flint, a touch of wood smoke and cashew filling out what is beautiful set of aromatics.

An intricate assemblage of fruit, acid and winemaking technique. There is such energy to this wine with a tension between the litheness of citrus fruit and worked brioche and almond meal notes that is tantalising.

There is an attractive leanness to the mid palate that shows enough but promises more with time, extended time on lees and in oak gives a mealy richness to the long finish that bristles with new season nectarine and citrus.

Oakridge under the guidance of David Bicknell are producing some of the best Chardonnay in the country.