2025 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula

Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay from the Mornington Peninsula is a vivid, finely shaped cool climate Chardonnay that shows the detail and restraint Barnaby Flanders brings to every wine he makes. Although the Le Stagiaire range is considered his introduction to the Garagiste style, it is crafted with the same meticulous care as his single vineyard bottlings. Fruit is sourced from vineyards in the Merricks district and nearby coastal slopes, where ancient volcanic soils, gentle south facing aspects, and the cooling influence of Western Port Bay create grapes with bright acidity, clean fruit profiles, and a natural mineral edge. These conditions make the Peninsula one of Australia’s most exciting regions for modern, elegant Chardonnay.

The fruit is hand picked early in the morning to preserve perfume and tension. Whole bunch pressing gives a pristine juice that goes straight to French oak, mostly older barrels, for fermentation with wild yeasts. Barnaby avoids heavy-handed winemaking, allowing the ferment to proceed slowly and naturally, encouraging texture without overwhelming the fruit with oak. A period of lees ageing with occasional stirring adds creaminess and a subtle savoury element while maintaining freshness and precision. The result is a wine that feels effortless and pure, built more on finesse than opulence.

In the glass it shows pale straw with green reflections. The aroma is beautifully lifted and complex, starting with white peach, lemon zest, and nectarine, followed by hints of sea spray, almond, wet stone, and flint. With air the wine reveals more depth, showing chamomile, baked apple, and a faint smoky edge from barrel fermentation. It captures the Mornington Peninsula signature of coastal freshness combined with gentle complexity.

The palate is taut, silky, and finely textured. Citrus and stone fruit take the lead, supported by delicate spice and a creamy mid palate shaped by lees contact. A clean mineral line runs from start to finish, giving the wine energy and a sense of definition. Acidity is bright but beautifully integrated, creating a long, savoury, and refreshing finish with notes of lemon curd, peach skin, and crushed rock. It is a Chardonnay that balances generosity with restraint, showing depth without losing its coastal tension.

It is superb with dishes like grilled scallops, roast chicken, creamy seafood pasta, soft cheese, or vegetables with herbs and lemon. It drinks beautifully now but has the structure to develop over five to seven years, gaining nuttier complexity and weight with time in the cellar.