2018 Moorilla Praxis Chardonnay Musque, Southern Tasmania

One of winemaker Conor van de Reest major contributions to the Australian wine industry is Chardonnay Musqué. He brought the Burgundian clone to be recognised and registered in Australia, planting the Moorilla vines in 2009. Over the last decade more Muscat characters are emerging alongside the Chardonnay profile as the vines mature.

The 2018 has pretty vanilla, apple crumble and yellow floral aromas. There’s a touch of lychee and white peaches which continue on the palate. It’s incredibly fresh with silken texture and complexity from the phenolic hints. A great alternative for fans of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, looking for a new experience.

It made me rinse and change glasses just to make sure that I was tasting the correct wine. It's far more floral than we customarily see from this variety; it tastes of stone fruit, rose water and musk, though the finish bursts with citrus. It's not big or rich but it's textural, and it's intriguing.