2021 Frederick Stevenson Chardonnay
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
REGION: Adelaide Hills, SA
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic
WINEMAKER: Steve Crawford
"Adelaide Hills -> Sub Region Piccadilly, 500-550m up and east facing. Un Cert. Organically Grown (2nd year) sandy loam over sandstone and ironstone. Second year of producing this wine -> Im trying to make a wine of texture and freshness without leaning too heavy on oak and lees stirring. So longer, oxidative pressings, a bit of solids retention for natural ferment and ageing on lees in oak for 9 months...
The result! White peach, lemon pith, tonic water, apple strudel (cinnamon, toasted pastry) on the nose, with a medium weighted, slightly oily / sea brine texture with a good balance of the aromas present on the palate - nice refreshing acid to close (weirdly not a huge acid year after the more mild conditions - but still persistent and refreshing...). Slight touch of oxidative / salty characters are present but the wine is much more geared towards the fresher side of things. (2019 release (1st and experimental) was much more the oxidative side)"
Steve Crawford started his Barossa label under the pseudonym of Frederick Stevenson whilst working at a larger winery. One of the nicest guys in wine that continues to impress each and every year.