2022 Toolangi Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Whole-bunch pressed to French oak barriques and puncheons (all 10% new). Limited mlf (10%), with 10 months on lees before bottling. A deepish green gold. Aromas of ripe stone fruits into a little fresh guava. A gentle vanillin. The palate is quite opulent, but there's good acidity to balance. A well-priced wine designed to drink and enjoy from the word go. Drink to 2026.

91 points Philip Rich for Halliday Wine Companion, April 2024 

2022 will be remembered for two things at Toolangi: the tiniest yields in a decade (resulting from poor flowering) and outstanding wines. The Chardonnay was handpicked on 4th of March and whole bunch-pressed to French oak barriques and puncheons of which 10% were new. The fermented wine rested for ten months in the barrels before it was bottled.

About this producer

Toolangi is an 11-hectar veineyard in Dixons Creek at the cooler northern end of Yarra Valley. Established in 1995 by Gary and Julie Hounsell, highly respected long term winemaker Kaspar Hermann took over this beautiful site in 2026, starting an exciting new chapter for the label that is set to be one of the brightest stars in the region.

All fruit is grown in-house, with focus on block specific wines from the sustainably managed site on fine clay loam soils and utilising organic and regenerative farming practices for the best quality outcome. The varieties planted are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.