2021 Patrick Underwood Rush Bros. Vineyard Malmsbury Chardonnay
WINEMAKER: Pat Underwood
REGION: Central Victoria, VIC
VARIETY: Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Organic/Sustainable
Drygrown chardonnay from a beautiful 5 and a half rows between Malmsbury and Taradale townships. P58 planted on its own roots in 1988, N/S Orientation on relatively young (2.6 million years) lava flows of basalt, scoria intermingled with quartz. 450m amsl. Farmed by John Rush who, along with two brothers, has owned the property for many decades. Harvested 6th of April, a gentle foot trod of the whole bunches prior to a very long press direct to barrel. Just two large Taransaud casks held the entire volume, with one new demi-muid and one 5 year old puncheon that had been exclusively used for this vineyard’s fruit since new.
A wild fermentation took place without addition and continued throughout the year. The wines were transferred to stainless steel after 14 months while still fermenting a small amount of the initial sugar. A further 12 months in stainless culminated in some gentle encouragement to ensure the wine was properly dry, before a series of gravity racking and sulfur additions to prepare the wine for bottle. The wine is entirely malo dry. Bottled by hand June 1st 2023.