2025 Circulus Chardonnay

Grown on Eocene ferric vertisols of clayey loam over Miocene basaltic clay with Chardonnay clones of UC Davis 110V5, Burgundy import clones 76 and 95 on own roots. Vines planted in 1999 and grafted in 2023 with north-south orientation. 2380 vines/ha (2.8 row width, 1.5m vine spacing). Managed under vertical shoot positioning (VSP) with double Guyot cane pruning. Hand-harvested 18th and 19th Feb 2025. Wild ferment in French oak barriques (30% new). 20% malolactic fermentation with nine months on lees with bâtonnage, followed by racking and bottling in Jan 2026. The growing season commenced following a dry winter in 2024, leading into a spring and summer with below-average rainfall and higher temperatures. Persistent dry weather led to lower volumes and smaller berry sizes, yielding wines with excellent structure, concentrated flavours, vibrant acidity, and intense fruit profiles. Pale straw in colour. The nose shows Meyer lemon, white peach, brioche, almond, and wet stone. The palate delivers bright citrus and ripe pear, with a creamy texture and a gentle spice on the finish. – John White, Circulus