Winemaker Notes
A fine boned Chardonnay that reflects the conditions of the vintage and the character of this unique vineyard site. The 2020 vintage has great intensity of fruit, with floral, lemon curd, and mineral notes. Layered texture is balanced by high acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Such a deep nose, with a wide spectrum of candied citrus, fresh butter and stunning, leesy complexity. Great concentration and restrained richness, with wonderful mineral freshness give this near-perfect balance.
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Wine Enthusiast
From two blocks of vines, this vintage of Lenswood shows exceptional fruit intensity—likely due to very low yields—rimmed in salt and toast. There’s a distinctive shape to the palate. It’s both broad and mouth- filling but also cuts straight down the middle, with tingly, crystalline acidity. Lemon and tropical fruits are tied in a bow by the oak and lees influence. This is a beautifully crafted wine now but it could continue to evolve in bottle for several more years.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A narrow band of hills and valleys east of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills region is a diverse landscape featuring a variety of microclimates. In general it is moderate with high-altitude areas cooler and wetter compared to its warmer, lower areas.
Piccadilly Valley, the part of Adelaide Hills closest to the city, was first staked out by a grower named Brian Croser, in the 1970s for a cool spot to grow Chardonnay, then uncommon in Australia. Today a good amount of the Chardonnay goes to winemakers outside of the region.
Producers here experiment with other cool-climate loving aromatic varieties like Pinot Gris, Viognier and Riesling. Charming sparkling wine is also possible. On its north side, lower, west-facing slopes make full-bodied Shiraz.