2013 Chardonnay Block 6
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Tasting notes
100% Mendoza clone planted on a mix of clay and ironstone rock. Grapes were crushed and pressed, settled overnight then barrel fermented in 500-litre French oak puncheons with full solids. Wild-yeast fermentation completed after 19 days. No malolactic fermentation and the wine was left on the lees till February 2014. Tasted blind. Pale straw. Broad and salty. Just a little lacking fruit and juice in the middle but certainly pure and ambitious. Wet stones on the end. Very high in acidity. Could well be Chablis. Slightly pinched finish at the moment. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
100% Mendoza clone. More creamy, mealy spicy on the nose than the 2013 Single Vineyard Chardonnay. More intense but still with very tense lemon/grapefruit fruit. For me only just on the right side of the austere border. Extreme acidity and impressive length. Beware the acid. (JH)
Subtle, low-key nose and then pretty punishing acidity. Too austere for me. I’m sure it is built to last but for this money I’d like it to be at least as approachable as a 2013 white burgundy at this price. No great density on the palate. I’m sure this is very celebrated in Australia but it’s too extreme for me. (JR)
The Block 6 Chardonnay is youthfully muted with nuances of green mango, yuzu zest and orange blossoms plus touches of aniseed and crushed stones. Very tart, tight-knit and restrained at this stage, it gives generous citrus flavors with minerally accents and wonderful persistence. Needs time.