Ghost Rock Estate Chardonnay 2023

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 21st January 2026 "Give the wine a few minutes in the glass or better still, decant for 30-minutes and leave in a cool place… The perfume engages you from the beginning. Mineral driven along with oyster shell, apple, lemon, fresh pear, light sea spray, almond, the faintest whisper of honey (but it’s there), olive brine and sweet spice. Smells of young Burgundies. The palate is succulent, characterful, slips between orchard, stone, and citrus fruits – there’s tightness (it’s young), vim and vigour. Salinity is the driver, lots of minerals – lip smacking stuff and very, very delicious. This is already showing signs of complexity, but I predict this hitting its straps in 4-5-years. Really, good… Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware (big bottom glassware a must)."

Bouquet: A lovely aroma expressing the full spectrum of a cool climate Chardonnay. Lime blossom, almond meal, lemon peel, hints of biscuit and chalk.
 
Palate: The palate has a generous weight and glossy texture, balanced with a through-line acidity that keeps the flavour going, and going. One of our best years of Chardonnay.
 
Vintage: Our 2023 vintage was much like 2021, with dryer than average summer conditions, ideal ripening temperatures, and evasion of weather events that gripped other regions. Yields were average across the vineyard, with quality and aromatics proving high across all varietals. Fruit reached ideal ripeness with ease and came in swiftly in 3 short weeks across each of our blocks. An easy growing season, drama-free, and producing some of our most aromatic wines yet.
 
Winemaking: Our Chardonnay was hand-selected and pressed while fruit was cold. High solids were retained in the juice to promote texture and complexity. A mix of wild and inoculated ferments were chosen to gain a full spectrum of flavour. Following alcoholic fermentation, the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation and regular lees stirring. After maturation in 25% new French Oak, the wine was filtered and bottled. No fining.
 
Viticulture: Our Estate Chardonnay was sourced from standout parcels of fruit within our Bonadale, Outlon, and Filles vineyards. Vines were winter pruned to 20-25 buds for optimal fruit to vine ratios, and underwent vigorous leaf plucking toward season’s end to ensure optimal light exposure and ripening.