Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay 2021

Levantine Hill Estate is a remarkable vineyard that has merged two vineyards in the heart of the Yarra Valley. The first vineyard has been producing superior grapes since the 1990s, while the other vineyard comprises lovingly planted family blocks surrounding the Homestead and a truffiére. Together, these two vineyards have become a testament to the passion and toil of dedicated human hands and man's tenuous relationship with the nurturing love of Mother Nature. Levantine Hill Estate began against the odds when the experts told the owners that the chosen piece of the Yarra Valley was far too steep and had too many underlying rocky outcrops, making it impossible to plant viable vines. However, the owners saw the potential and used a diamond-tipped drilling rig to remove the rocks, making Levantine Hill Estate take shape. Today, Levantine Hill Estate is a family vineyard that only bottles premium wines in impeccable years. The vineyard rises from the shores of the Yarra River at 75 meters and peaks at 225 meters above sea level. The vines thrive in looking out over steep clay loam slopes, at similar elevations to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis, France. The slopes, amphitheatres, valleys and orientation combine to create a distinct microclimate in each paddock. Levantine Hill Estate's uniqueness is evident in its Estate and Family Paddocks range, drawn respectively from its Maroondah Highway and Hill Road single vineyard sites. The wines are complex and classic, yet fresh, drawing inspiration from their historical heartland in France. The specificity of their faithful expression of the vineyard sites makes them highly individual and unable to be replicated anywhere else in the world. Levantine Hill Estate is committed to pursuing perfection, believing that perfection has no end point. Every member of the team is dedicated to creating only wines of finesse, longevity and outstanding character.

The Yarra Valley boasts a rich winemaking history that dates back to the mid-19th century. Today, it is recognized as one of Australia's premier wine regions, celebrated for its exceptional cool-climate varietals. From elegant Chardonnays to vibrant Pinot Noirs, the Yarra Valley produces wines of exceptional quality and complexity. The region's unique combination of cool temperatures and diverse soil types creates the perfect conditions for grape cultivation. Rolling hills, lush vineyards and gently flowing rivers contribute to the Yarra Valley's idyllic terroir, resulting in wines that beautifully express the characteristics of the land.

The Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay is a wine that defies the modern trend of taut and fine-boned expressions of Chardonnay. Instead, it offers a bold reclamation of the middle ground where body, flavour and palate weight can co-exist with structure, texture and measured acidity. On the nose, this wine offers up characters of flint, crème anglaise, white nectarine, lemon zest, honeydew melon, almond meal and cinnamon apple danish with underlying tempered toasty char and subtle struck match complexity. The medium-tensile acidity supports the heft of flavour, weight and intensity, with flavours of white grapefruit, toasted hazelnut, makrut leaf, saltbush and subtle vanillin interplay with a tactile chalkiness underpinning a weighty biscuity texture. This wine is a true delight to drink, with its bold and complex flavour profile and rich, textured mouthfeel. It is a perfect accompaniment to a range of dishes, from seafood to poultry to creamy pasta dishes. Overall, the Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay is an outstanding example of the classic Chardonnay style, with a unique and compelling twist that sets it apart from the rest.

The grapes were sourced from the estate’s steep, low-cropping, east-facing blocks of chardonnay vines in the Coldstream locality.

Youthful wine, with a light straw-yellow colour, and reserved but very attractive aromas of creamy lees, lightly browned toast and bread crust, honey as well. Taut and tense in the mouth, it is focused, refined, lively and very intense, driving through a long finish. A superb full-bodied chardonnay with a big future. (Screwcap) - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 96 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Yarra Valley
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%