100 Points - Erin Larkin | 100 Points - Andrew Caillard
There are few names in Australian wine as revered as those of Giaconda and its founder Rick Kinzbrunner. Since 1982, Rick has dedicated himself to the pursuit of vinous excellence in the Beechworth region.
A lover of great Burgundy, Kinzbrunner is best-known for his incredibly powerful Chardonnay, with Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo not far behind. His signature winemaking style shows a rare combination of power and finesse - many believe his to be one of the few 'new world' Chardonnays that can compare to the great whites of Burgundy.
The 2021 Giaconda Estate Chardonnay is another sublime example of Beechworth Chardonnay that is already attracting plenty of attention. With only very limited stocks available - this will sell out quickly.
"100 Points. The 2021 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay follows on directly from the 2019, as no 2020 vintage was made due to bushfires. The winemaking remains consistent with previous vintages: hand-picked, lightly crushed, then basket pressed, fermented wild in oak in the gravity-flow cellar, matured for 18+ months in French oak (30% new), with 100% malolactic fermentation. The 2021 is backward and flinty at this stage, with a staggering flow of flavor across the palate. It has penetrating characters of saffron, yellow peach, preserved citrus, red apple skins, brine, crushed shells and Indian root spice. I acknowledge that I have a blind spot for high-quality oak. It is present here, but it is seamlessly integrated into and matched by the potency of the fruit presence. This is an unbelievable wine that will only grow in stature over the coming years. As for comparison to previous vintages? The best until now was the 2018, but the 2021 is tighter, more focused and even, if you can believe it, longer. My heart (and money) is here, by a whisker. What a phenomenal wine."- Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate.
"100 Points. This is a brilliant Giaconda Chardonnay with superb density, fruit complexity, flow and mineral length. Australian Grand Cru. Absolute genius."- Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal.
