Hoddles Creek - 1er Yarra Valley Chardonnay - 2021

A good year for the Yarra Valley, and perhaps a more powerful iteration of 1er Chardonnay as a result. Nectarine, lemon zest, aniseed, some spicy cinnamon oak, but also very saline and savoury. It feels chalky, with grapefruity acidity through more nutty flavours, very tight and intense, though no shortage of flavour and length. A certain amount of width through the palate, and yet feels linear and stretches out with gently oxidative and salty character. Very distinctive, almost a Jura-like thing happening, which is all very nice, and it runs slightly peppery in the aftertaste. Excellent. 95 Points Gary Walsh, Wine Front