Grigsby Chardonnay 2024

Grigsby Chardonnay is made from a 0.87-acre vineyard block, originally planted in 2007 and grafted to Chardonnay clone Bernard 76 in 2019. The vine spacing is 1m and the row spacing is 1.2m (8,333 vines/hectare), with north-south row orientation. The soils are dark clay over weathered basalt and limestone.

Handpicked parcels of fruit were whole bunch pressed, settled overnight, and racked to barrels for a wild yeast fermentation in French oak hogsheads; approximately 25% was new oak. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally on 100% of the blend and completed in spring. The wine was left on lees, unstirred, for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.

Grigsby leans into a broader, more textural style of Chardonnay. The nose is cool and focused, with hints of pure pear, apple skin, and a touch of crème caramel. The palate builds with grip and generosity. There’s a chewiness to the structure, balanced by saline freshness and underlying power. A complex layered wine that continues to evolve in glass.

96 points. A lovely mineral tension lies beneath layers of citrus confit, lanolin, white flowers, flint and orange peel. The palate has a fine line of acidity, with textural weight and a mineral undertone that cuts through the rounded mouthfeel. Made from a close-planted block of Bernard clone 76, 8,300 vines per hectare. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com.

95 points. Quite a lot of colour to this wine and powerful fruit up-front, though the finish is then as restrained as it is long. This is a honed wine if ever there was one. Nougat, grilled peach, steel, mineral, orange rind and lemongrass characters put on a powerful display, lemon blossom notes then rising through the finish. Despite its colour this is a wine with yet plenty up its sleeve. The length of the finish here though puts a significant positive emphasis on the quality on offer. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.