Stonier Chardonnay 2022 (Mornington Peninsula)

Fruit for the Stonier Chardonnay is grown on grower vineyard sites located on the Southern side of the Mornington Peninsula, which is farmed exclusively by their in house viticulture team.

By farming vineyard in and around the home estate in Merricks, Stonier ensure that the thread of cool, coastal Chardonnay runs consistent through the wine.

The 2022 season was influenced by unsettled weather the previous spring resulting in smaller crops. Mild weather and a very dry February ensured that fruit ripened evenly and the grapes were in great condition for harvest.

Fruit was hand-harvested during the month of March, chilled overnight before being whole bunch pressed the next day. A long, slow pressing cycle ensure the white contains a structure that mirrors perfectly with food. The juice was transferred to 500 L French oak puncheons (10% of which were new) the following day with only heavy lees left behind. The wine was then fermented with a combination of native and cultured yeasts before a partial malolactic fermentation incurred during the winter.

The wine was blended January of 2023 before being bottled in April the same year. This salivating, mineral style Chardonnay will continue to evolve and drink best for the next 5 years.