By Farr Chardonnay 2022

The Farr Family established the By Farr brand in 1994, on a north-facing slope in the township of Bannockburn, Moorabool Valley. The original wines included Chardonnay by Farr, Viognier by Farr, Shiraz by Farr, and Pinot Noir by Farr, now known as Sangreal by Farr. With the help of Cassie and Nick, the vineyards have expanded to neighboring properties, resulting in greater expression of the single-site wines. The wines of By Farr are renowned for their complexity, layered structure and undeniable length, making them highly regarded by both consumers and critics worldwide. The Farr estate is located in the Moorabool Valley, between Geelong and Ballarat, 100km southwest of Melbourne. Gary and Robyn Farr purchased the original property in 1994, followed by a second section in 1998, which had been untouched for almost 40 years. The final piece of the puzzle, linking the two blocks of land, was purchased by Nick and Cassie Farr in 2011, totaling 130 acres. Nick and Gary Farr each have their own winemaking style, which has resulted in their respective lines - By Farr by Gary and Farr Rising by Nick - receiving critical acclaim both in Australia and overseas.

The By Farr Chardonnay is grown on the same site as the Sangreal Pinot Noir, composed of red soil over limestone, and was planted in 1994. The limestone of this site is not exposed on the surface as in other sites, starting 20 to 30cm below the surface, to the depths of the root zone of the vines. The vineyard is a very exposed north-facing slope. The clones used for the Chardonnay are a mixture of Dijon clones and Penfolds 58.

The 2022 vintage was dictated by the third consecutive wet Winter into Spring. With high hopes of an average or greater fruit load due to slightly warmer soils leading up to bud burst, then flowering we hoped to take advantage of the ample moisture in the soil. The storms and humidity don’t ease until late January but the team was able to keep the canopies open and the fruit healthy until the disease pressure eased. The season turned come February and the berries developed significant colour and depth of flavour by March. We started picking a little Pinot and Chardonnay’s mid to late March and took full advantage of the long and mild season that has resulted in layered and great site expressions regardless of variety. All in all the crop level was of the norm, average tonnages and the fruit extremely healthy. Credit to the team once again as the ferments where very expressive and show the potential to have come to expect of a season with a drying and cool evenings end. The whites have tension while lush in fruit characteristics. While the reds are building in complexity with every month they are left in barrel. - Vintage Notes By Nick Farr

River pebbles, struck match, stone fruit, spice, citrus. All that just from the first sniff. The skill to have so much on offer in a glass, yet keep the palate under such tension is really something. The ‘22 By Farr Chardonnay just gives and gives, from flavour to texture through to the finish. It’s long and incredibly fine but also has a softness to it. Perhaps some malo, perhaps some lees work. The wood is like a bass note to a melody and gives the wine an unassuming gravitas and rounds out what is an exemplary and beautifully balanced Chardonnay. - Tasting Notes by Nick Farr

The By Farr Chardonnay 2022 is a beautiful wine that is made using a meticulous winemaking process. The fruit is hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed in the winery. All the solids are collected and chilled before being put to barrel, which are 30% new French oak. A natural fermentation occurs at cool temperatures over the next one to two months, and then a small amount of stirring helps start malolactic fermentation. The wine is then racked, fined and lightly filtered before bottling 11 months after picking. The vineyard is known for its mineral-rich soil, which adds a unique character to the wine. On the nose, this wine offers trademark characteristics of understated power and length, with a mineral finish. The wine has a great fruit expression that is well integrated with French oak. The soil characteristics are evident in the style of wine produced, with a fine but firm palate, great acidity, texture and length. The wine is rich in flavor, yet very refined, making it a perfect balance of elegance and complexity. The By Farr Chardonnay 2022 is a wine that showcases the best of the vineyard's unique characteristics. It is a rich and complex wine that will appeal to those who appreciate a refined and nuanced Chardonnay with a mineral finish.

Reserved, quiet bouquet of stone fruits including white peach and pear, a hint of fresh-baked bread, the palate delicate and restrained, soft and round, with a clean, dry finish enhanced by a trace of grip. There's good intensity and the wine has a seamless balance. It should build richness and complexity with a little more time. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 95 Points

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Geelong, Victoria
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%