2021 Moorilla Muse Chardonnay, Northern Tasmania

Pale straw with aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon and juicy nectarine fruits alongside hints of soft spice, lemon curd, vanillin, whey, white flowers, oatmeal and stone. Mouth-filling, supple and citrus-driven with a light wash of spiced oatmeal, fine lacy acidity and daubs of clotted cream and citrus as the wine fades. 

93 points Halliday (Dave Brookes, October 2024)

The St Matthias vineyard is a northeast facing slope with rocky soils on a clay and loam base. The oldest vines are now 50 years old.

2021 was a great year for Tamar Valley in terms of quality. The yield in the St Matthias vineyard was somewhat reduced due to a cool start to the season. The weather warmed substantially about a third of the way through the season, with fast accelerating ripening. Picking the fruit ended up being a challenge due to the lack of labour brought on by COVID restrictions, resulting in higher-than-expected sugars due to a two week pause in harvesting.

Whole bunches were pressed directly into 500L French oak barrels, 16% of which were new. The wine was allowed to ferment with ambient yeasts. Malolactic fermentation was not allowed. After three months with lees stirring, the wine was allowed to rest on lees for 14 months. The wine was then blended, fined and filtered head of bottling in August 2022.

Drinking window suggested by the winery: 2026-2034