Shadowfax Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2022

Established in 1998, Shadowfax is a boutique winery located just 30 minutes from Melbourne in the heart of Werribee Park. Dedicated to creating high-quality and handcrafted wines, Shadowfax is renowned for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Shiraz, as well as a selection of highly limited, single-vineyard wines. The winery takes its name from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic, The Lord of the Rings, where Shadowfax was chief among horses. Contemporary in design and function, Shadowfax's unique architecture reflects an attempt to create a harmony between the winery and its natural surroundings. Designed by award-winning architects Wood Marsh, the winery's rusted sheet metal exterior and terracotta interior evoke the best of Australian wine heritage. At Shadowfax, the team is passionate about allowing each vineyard site to express its unique character, with the grapes grown reflecting the site and telling their own story. The vineyards are grown depending on their own requests, with the team always listening and tasting to ensure the vineyard's needs and wants are met. Shadowfax is not afraid of new ideas, experimentation, trials and tribulations, all while having fun doing so. The vineyard is allowed to do the talking, using the wine glass as its stage. Shadowfax is a winery that truly cares about the land and the wines it produces, resulting in some of the most exceptional wines in the region.

Shadowfax Wines is a premium winery with vineyards located in some of the most unique and sought-after regions in Australia. The Little Hampton single vineyard site near Trentham sits at 730m above sea level, making it one of the coolest in the Macedon Ranges. The deep red volcanic loams over hard basalt outcrops give Little Hampton a unique balance between aromatics and power, producing exceptional fruit, particularly Pinot Noir, which forms the flagship Little Hampton Pinot Noir. Other vineyards include Straws Lane, planted in the 1980s to Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer near Hesket, Midhill, with slightly acidic and well-drained red volcanic soils and Werribee, which produces powerful and robust K Road Shiraz and unadulterated Minnow wines. The Pyrenees vineyard produces Shiraz with natural spicy aromas, a full palate and long fine tannins, thanks to the inland location at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountain range. Shadowfax Wines' commitment to minimal intervention in the winery and precision farming results in wines that are vibrant, pure and drinkable.

The Shadowfax Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2022 is a distinctive wine that boasts a light straw color with a green hue and brilliant clarity. Bursting from the glass, the aroma showcases white florals, lemon curd and nectarine fruit notes complemented by hints of lees-derived cream and fresh bagel notes that are complexed with smoked bacon and brioche. The perfume is persistent and intriguing, belying the complex and powerful wine beneath. On the palate, grapefruit zest and tangerine fruits spill immediately, augmented with wild ferment characters such as choux pastry and barrel spice complexity. The wine walks a tightrope, with sherbet acidity and lime pith falling off the side. The concentrated palate is long and intense, continually developing through your first, second and third glass. This is a great example of cold climate Macedon Ranges Chardonnay. This wine pairs well with ginger wok-tossed lobster, pippies with XO sauce and confit chicken. The ageing potential of this wine is excellent, with a drink now through 2035 recommendation. The grapes are grown at the 740 meters above sea level elevation site of Little Hampton, where extra cool nights help retain natural acidity in the grapes. The fruit was hand-picked in small batches in pristine condition. The winemaking process involved firmly whole bunch pressing the hand-harvested fruit to impart some skin contact and release the full flavor profile and phenolic texture. Natural fermentation occurred in new (22%) and older French barrels. The wine was left to unwind and age slowly on its ferment lees to add generosity. Each barrel was treated as its own entity, with some allowed to go through natural Malolactic fermentation to add further depth.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Macedon Ranges, Victoria
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%