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, and the row orientation is north-south. The soils are made up of dark clay over weathered basalt and limestone.
Handpicked parcels of fruit were whole bunch pressed, settled over night, and racked to barrels for a wild yeast fermentation in French oak hogsheads; approximately 30% was new oak. Malolactic fermentation occurred on 70% of the blend, with the remainder blocked. The wine was left on lees unstirred for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.
The 2022 vintage offers a wine of richness and depth, with breadth and concentration in the flavours, finding energy and focus on the finish.
96 points. Light-medium yellow colour with a rich and toasty/oaky bouquet that enshrines nougat, roasted hazelnuts and creamy lees derived facets. A very complex chardonnay, full and rich and generous in the mouth with a long-lasting aftertaste. A ripping chardonnay. Huon Hooke, therealreview.com.
95 points. This is rich. If chardonnay flavour is your desire, then come hither. It offers a liberal serve of grilled peach flavour, with nectarine, citrus, sweet spice and cedarwood oak, and then layers custard powder characters through the aftertaste. It’s an excellent, well-tailored rendition of the fuller chardonnay style. Importantly it runs fresh and lengthy to close, with hints of reductive character there too, which is a bonus. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au.
