L.A.S Vino Barrels of Metricup Chardonnay 2025

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 8 October 2026 “The 2025 Metricup is a glorious Chardonnay. White peach and ripe nectarine initially, followed by lemon curd, grapefruit and citrus oil, but it is the mouthfeel that commands attention. The palate broadens almost immediately, becoming wonderfully expansive and deeply concentrated, with a silky, almost satin-like quality through the middle. There is subtle nuttiness, a savoury edge and just enough phenolic grip to provide definition, but calling this rich tells only half the story. The energy underneath all that generosity is remarkable. Fresh lemon and lime seem to cut through the wine from within rather than sitting separately from it, lifting the weight and keeping everything moving. The texture builds and builds, coating the palate without becoming remotely heavy, before citrus, stone fruit, gentle savouriness and a beautifully saline note gather everything together through a tremendously long finish. Powerful, luxurious and wonderfully composed, but above all ridiculously pleasurable to drink. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware. Drink now to 2035.”

Vineyard
This is the fourth release from this exceptional certified-organic vineyard in the heart of Metricup, Margaret River. The 24-year-old Gin Gin Chardonnay vines are planted on sandy-loam topsoil over mottled clay - a distinctly different profile from the forest loams and mottled granite more commonly associated with Willyabrup.

Winemaking
The fruit was hand-picked, chilled and hand-selected before being whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in ten barriques, just two of which were new. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation, with fortnightly lees stirring, before spending ten months maturing in barrel. It was then blended and bottled unfined, with only a light filtration.

The Wine
A fascinating counterpoint to L.A.S. Vino’s ‘Wildberry Springs’ Chardonnay. Differences in sub-region, soil, climate and fermentation vessel give Barrels of Metricup an entirely individual personality. Metricup’s warm days build weight, richness and generosity, while the cooling afternoon breezes rolling in from the Indian Ocean preserve a wonderful sense of freshness and energy. There is plenty of Chardonnay richness here, but never heaviness: citrus, lemon and lime flow into lemon curd, ripe peach and stone fruit, underpinned by a lovely creamy texture from barrel maturation and lees work. The freshness provides the counterpoint, carrying everything through to a long, vibrant finish.

Made from certified-organic fruit and handled organically in the winery, this is a beautifully expressive interpretation of Metricup Chardonnay - generous, textural and richly flavoured, but with the freshness and precision that makes Margaret River Chardonnay so compelling.