This ‘small leap’ is a blanc de blancs style, with Chardonnay from Howard Park’s estate vineyards in Pemberton and Mount Barker. The fruit for this wine is selected to be lean in style, captured when the mineral/sea-spray elements from the region balance Chardonnay’s early fruit character of apples and pears. Winemaking follows this lead, keeping the fruit pure, through the use only of free-run juice from the press, vinification in stainless steel and neutral oak, and partial malolactic fermentation. After around 16 months on lees it is dosed brut level, ensuring the freshness is balanced by a soft and creamy mouthfeel.
NV
The current release is 100% Chardonnay, based on the 2023 vintage and sourced predominantly from Pemberton. Slightly drier than previous releases, dosage was 3.2 g/L. It has had a minimum of 18 months maturation on lees before disgorgement.
“The team is building a program of reserve wines. At the moment, this wine enjoys a perpetual reserve of 5%, but they will grow this to 10% down the track. Pale in colour, this is lean and fresh with hints of garden greens, sea breezes, spices, apples and freshly picked pears. There is good balance and intensity running the length and we see hints of citrus and grapefruit emerge towards the finish.” 93 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
92, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
91, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
92 points, James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com
92 points, Ray Jordan
92 points, Regan Drew, Vino Notebook
