L.A.S Vino Southern Seas Chardonnay 2025

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 8 October 2026 “The 2025 Southern Seas is completely different and every bit as compelling. Cooler, tighter and more linear on first approach, with crisp apple, lemon and lime alongside just-ripe stone fruit, wet stone and a wonderful marine salinity. There is a brightness and tension that immediately distinguishes it from Metricup, but beneath that tighter frame lies the most beautiful texture. It doesn't announce itself; it slowly unfurls. Citrus and mineral precision lead before the palate gradually broadens, revealing a silky, gently creamy middle with almond, lemon curd and something subtly savoury. The acidity provides a cool current through the entire wine while the texture quietly gathers around it. This is certainly not lean Chardonnay; there is real substance beneath the freshness, but it is held beautifully in reserve. The finish is long, saline and mouthwatering, leaving citrus, stone and the faintest creamy impression behind. More restrained than Metricup, certainly; tighter and more coiled, absolutely. But that extraordinary L.A.S. Vino texture is there in abundance, quietly waiting beneath the surface. Utterly fascinating Chardonnay. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware. Drink now to 2035.”

Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “A distinct feel to the 2025 vintage in the southern climes of Karridale, is the explanation, and to be distinguished by coolness and maritime influence that shifts away from the dryer, warmer north. This wine spends time in amphora and oak. This has some nerve and pluck. The handrails are just-ripe stone fruit, sugared almonds, brine; the rungs made of wild honey, green apple, bergamot and yuzu. The weave pitch perfect, delivering a bit of volume with a cooling undertow of freshness. It sits up in the glass, drink with a spoon, watch it sizzle and dissolve in the following stanzas. It’s a wine of immense pleasure, deep chardonnay charisma, refreshment factor. Really onto something.”

Ray Jordan “Creating a wine of brightness, tension, and clean natural acidity. After hand picking and whole bunch pressing, the free-run juice was fermented in a mix of new barriques and amphora. The result is a wine that displays delicacy, yet with deeply intense flavours of lemon meringue, fresh citrus, and subtle vanilla notes. Thoroughly beautiful wine.”
 

Vineyard

Following several warm, dry vintages in Margaret River, we sought out a vineyard at the southern end of the Cape, a place where conditions are naturally cooler and shaped not only by the Indian Ocean, but also by the Southern Ocean. This dual maritime influence extends the growing season, producing fruit with naturally higher acidity, greater tension and layered texture. In 2025, the contrast across the region was striking: fields in the south remained green and vibrant, while those to the north were dry and golden. Increased moisture, greater cloud cover and cooling Southern Ocean breezes, combined with classic rich gravelly loam soils, have delivered a Chardonnay that feels distinctly different. This site brings a fresh and compelling new expression to our portfolio.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked, chilled overnight and gently pressed as whole bunches, with only the free-run juice retained for fermentation. The juice was softly settled and racked off heavy solids before fermenting in a combination of barrique (30% new) and amphora, where it matured for 11 months. The wine was not fined and underwent only a light filtration prior to bottling, allowing the character of the site and season to remain clearly expressed.

Wine

Granny smith apple,  ice cream, lemon, lime, wet stone and sea salt. Elegant, silky smooth , fresh and delicious. Think chablis with a bit more oomph.