Garagiste Merricks Chardonnay 2017

Flinty apple skin and grapefruit on the nose with loads of energy and brightness leading to a high-toned palate with a core of cream texture, plus gentle grip and juicy freshness. Spot on! Drawn from the south-facing Merricks Grove vineyard, where the grey sandy loams are marbled with red ironstone. Hand harvested, hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. Natural fermentation on high solids in 500-litre puncheons (one new François Frères barrel used in 2017). Partial malolactic fermentation. Matured on lees for ten months before bottling. This is a cracking Mornington Chardonnay.