95 Points - Campbell Mattinson
Curly Flat's Macedon Ranges winery is one of the coldest vineyard sites in Australia, so it's little wonder they chose to focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir when they established Curly Flat in the early 1990's.
The 2025 Curly Flat Chardonnay opens with delicate aromas of white flowers, lemon sorbet and green apple, complemented by warming cedar and spice from barrel ageing (all French oak, naturally). Citrus pith, white peach and hints of yeast lees sit comfortably alongside the crystalline minerality. Judicious use of malolactic fermentation adds creamy richness to the mouthfeel. A tight, linear acid line and palate richness will see the this age well into the future; easily 5-8 years, and likely longer.
"95 Points. This release is powerful but taut; it has a long future ahead of it. It tastes of sweet peach, cedar, toast, fennel and roasted peanuts, the latter edging into hay-like territory. It’s welcoming, It’s powerful. It packs a punch, and then brings it all back in close, the latter without affecting the length of the finish. This needs some extra time in bottle but it’s an excellent release of Curly Flat Chardonnay. 12.5% alcohol, screwcap, Macedon Ranges."- Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
"95 Points. A stylish, complex Chardonnay for this well-known Macedon Ranges winery reflecting a vintage that by all accounts escaped major weather disruptions and was warm and even. Offers texture and richness throughout starting with a bouquet of toast, cedar, nectarine, white peach, grapefruit and almond cream with baked bread verging on creme brûlée notes. Oak isn’t shy and the fruit is up to the task. Savoury almond creamy, buttery lemon curd joins with cedar overtones on the palate and baked quince, lemon peel and citrus. There’s a tart, citrus peel like quality in play here, and an acidity that is brisk and mineral- edged. A super long, lip-smacking finish seals what is a wine with an equally long future ahead. $60. Drink: 2026 - 2038"- Jeni Port, Wine Pilot.
