Witches Falls Winery is a James Halliday five-star winery (2014) and one I visited on a fleeting overnight stay in Mt Tamborine recently.
Here the wines are made with minimal intervention using the indigenous yeast present on the grape skins. The wines are barrel fermented, giving added complexity and structure.
They bottle here from their own grapes, and in this case the wild ferment chardonnay I tasted was grown near Ballandean in the Granite Belt.
The Granite Belt sits on the Great Dividing Range 850m above sea level and 95km inland from the coast. The winters are cold and frosty and the summers produce a continental climate perfect for the stuff of grapes.
The 2011 and 2012 vintages of this same wine both contributed to Witches Falls Winery being awarded their 5-star rating for the past two years running.
2011 Wild Ferment Chardonnay gained 94 points from James Halliday, and the 2012 Wild Ferment Chardonnay gained 93 points.
‘We see the 2013 being just as successful; however, it hasn’t as yet been submitted for review,’ Tanya Robertson from the winery told me.
If you appreciate a good chardy, then this is an exceptional one to try. I was suitably impressed by this shining example of the craft of Witches Falls – well worth its $32 price tag.
The winemaker’s tasting notes always provide sexy reading so here’s their take on this $32 Chardonnay: Honeydew melon, citrus and vanilla aromas combine to deliver a compelling nose. The palate is beautifully balanced with white peach and citrus supported by toasty oak. Crisp acidity provides length and persistence.
Wine: 2013 Wild Ferment Chardonnay
Cost: $32 per bottle or $25 for members
Cellar: 3-4 years
Food match: Chicken and pasta dishes along with rich cheeses
Where: Cellar door, Witches Falls Winery, 79 Main Western Road, North Tamborine, QLD
Online: witchesfallswinery.com.au
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07 5545 2609
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