2024 Broadvale Block 11

Chardonnay

Voyager Estate

2023: Despite a cool start to spring, flowering and fruit set were even across all varieties. November heralded the beginning of a glorious run of weather. Days were warm but never hot, and temperatures dropped nicely into the evenings, allowing gradual ripening and acid retention in the grapes. Harvest commenced a week later than ‘normal’ under clear blue skies and finished in mid-April. 2021: A tricky season commencing with good early season growth. A cool and wet November impacted fruit set and resulted in reduced yields. Early summer was hot and dry, then February brought more cool and wet conditions. Our organic farming, however, had the vineyard in terrific shape to deal with the challenges and our Chardonnay was harvested with fruit purity and bright acidity. 2020: Our first organically certified Chardonnay! An outstanding vintage characterised by warmth through the growing season with milder conditions as the fruit ripened. This led to fruit purity, freshness, and bright varietal expression - the perfect balance of power & elegance and the perfect wine for drinking now and over 15 years. 2019: An unusually cool, late season which provided perfect conditions for steady ripening, slow sugar accumulation, flavour development and acid retention. The result is an elegant Chardonnay displaying attractive floral and sweet lemon aromas, a fine vibrant citrus line driving the palate and delicate savoury layers of complexity. 2018: A classic growing season for Chardonnay in which fruit ripened slowly, accumulating intense varietal flavours whilst retaining fresh natural acidity. This balance is at the core of the 2018 Chardonnay, a wine with incredible fruit weight, complexity and texture, built for longevity but drinks amazingly right now. 2017: One of the coolest and latest seasons we've seen in the region with harvest delayed some three weeks. The milder ripening weather allowed for the slow accumulation of intense varietal character - citrus, white peach, floral, hazelnut and the wine retained a vibrant citrus line, savoury layers of complexity and a fresh, saline minerality.