L.A.S Vino Barrels of Metricup Chardonnay 2024

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 8th October 2025 "Already sold-out at the winery, which and after my third bottle, is easy to understand why. Shall I tell you something? In all my time as an Aussie specialist – I have never sampled two Chardonnays from the same vintage and producer that were so distinctive. The bouquet continues to give me goosebumps – the birthplace drives this wine forward with Meyer lemon, grapefruit, citrus blossom, ripe nectarine, the purist and saltiest, oceanic breeze imaginable, sweet, oak spice, freshly grated ginger, preserved lemon butter, waxy lemon, oodles of wet stones on a hot day, and tonic water if the rest wasn’t enough. Aeration and an increase in temperature elevates everything – The bouquet, the flavour and the all-encompassing texture. Big glass, too…. Do not serve in Zalto’s Universal stem (or similar shape). Flavours tow a linear line. There’s so much tingling minerality. You feel and taste the purity. Sensational, in one word. Shall I tell you something else? This is on-par with Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. Fact, in my humble opinion. Drink now to 2035. This will be incredible in 5-8-years."

VINEYARD

This is our fourth vintage working with fruit from this exceptional certified organic vineyard, nestled in the heart of Metricup, Margaret River. The vines—24-year-old ‘Gin-Gin’ clone Chardonnay—are planted in sandy loam topsoil over a mottled clay subsoil. This contrasts distinctly with the forest loam and mottled granite soils typical of Wilyabrup, highlighting the unique character of this site.

WINERY

The fruit is hand-picked, chilled, and meticulously hand-sorted before being whole-bunch cold pressed. Fermentation and aging take place in barriques, 44% of which are new. Malolactic fermentation is intentionally avoided to preserve natural acidity, with fortnightly lees stirring adding texture and complexity. After 11 months in barrel, the wine is blended and allowed to settle in stainless steel before bottling. It is unfined and lightly filtered to retain purity and expression.

WINE

A striking counterpoint to the 'Wildberry Springs' Chardonnay, this wine showcases the impact of sub-region, soil profile, climate, and fermentation vessel. Crafted from certified organic fruit and handled with a minimal intervention approach, it reflects the purity of its origin. The vineyard’s latitude delivers warm days tempered by cool nights, thanks to the Indian Ocean’s afternoon breezes. This diurnal shift gives the wine richness, weight, and generosity of flavour, while preserving a remarkable freshness. Bright notes of citrus, lemon, lime curd, peach, and stone fruit define its expressive palate.