2024 Meadowbank Chardonnay, Derwent Valley

Meadowbank Chardonnay from Tasmania’s Derwent Valley is a sleek, mineral-driven white that exemplifies the precision and purity achievable in cool-climate Australian Chardonnay. Grown on the Meadowbank estate’s sustainably farmed vineyard, perched in the cool southern reaches of the Derwent Valley, this Chardonnay benefits from long ripening periods, sandstone soils and dramatic diurnal shifts that preserve acidity and build layered complexity.

Winemaker Peter Dredge brings a refined, low-intervention touch to the winemaking. Handpicked fruit is whole bunch pressed and wild fermented in a combination of old and new French oak barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation and extended lees contact add depth and creaminess without sacrificing the wine’s inherent tension and drive. The result is a Chardonnay of both restraint and texture.

Aromas of white grapefruit, lemon peel, nectarine and oyster shell emerge on the nose, with subtle hints of struck match, cashew and flint. The palate is tightly wound and linear, delivering citrus, white peach and almond notes wrapped in fine acidity and a chalky, savoury finish. It’s elegant, vibrant and built to evolve.

Pair with grilled scallops, roast chicken with tarragon cream, lobster ravioli or a mushroom and ricotta tart. Also superb with washed rind cheeses or crab with lemon aioli. Drink now for its clarity and vibrancy or cellar 5 to 8 years for more complexity and richness.