2016 Henschke Archer’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

Pale straw in colour with golden hues. Stunning, fragrant aromas of melon, grapefruit and white peach and delicate notes of pear skin and clove are complemented by subtle hints of vanilla and cashew. The juicy citrus and melon palate is richly textured, forming a creamy, luscious mouthfeel, and building in complexity for a rich and lingering finish.

The Archer’s chardonnay vineyard, planted in the mid-1980s, has been named as a tribute to Alan and Mary Archer and is located high in the central cool-climate Adelaide Hills. The property had formally belonged to Alan and Mary Archer who ran The Chesser Cellar, a dining institution in Adelaide for many years. Alan had previously sold my father Cyril’s wine in Adelaide and became a well-loved ‘mine host’ at the Chesser. Mary loved to grow her own vegetables for the restaurant in her well tended garden on the farm at Lenswood. The ancient well-drained sandy loam soils derived from a sedimentary shale bedrock ensure naturally low-yielding vines and concentrated fruit flavours. All fruit is handpicked from individual blocks and fermented separately and lees aged in oak barrels. The cool-climate Adelaide Hills provides purity of fruit, beautiful acidity, length of flavour and great ageing potential.Serving