96 Points - James Halliday
Port Phillip Estate's Red Hill vineyard is located on the volcanic soils of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula; a region well-known for producing some of Australia's finest premium Chardonnay.
This 2018 Port Phillip Estate Red Hill Chardonnay is crafted from grapes that were gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barriques (15% of which were new) and fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. Following fermentation the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months. It was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.
Citrus notes of orange, tangelo, and lemon peel together with attractive suggestions of flint and oatmeal reveal themselves on the nose. The palate is pure, intense and taut, with powerful lemon (fresh and preserved) and white stone fruit flavours driving the long palate into a piercing and chalky finish.
"96 Points. Full, bright yellow-gold; a very complex bouquet with some reduction. The palate takes over with drive and freshness courtesy of citrussy acidity, oak in the background. Excellent value. $37. 13% alc. Drink by 2032" - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2021.
