2017 Murdoch Hill The Rocket Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

Michael Downer's refined style of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay has seen him scoop another gong, 2017 Gourmet Traveller's Young Winemaker of the Year. This wine is Downer's first step on the rung, sourced from premium vineyards from the Lobethal district, Oakbank and the Piccadilly Valley. Each small parcel is chosen to provide a different, complementary silhouette, with the idea to bottle something greater than the sum of its parts. The fruit was hand-picked then kept in cold storage at two degrees for several days. The grapes were whole bunch and whole berry pressed straight to barrel with a mix of barriques and puncheons with 15% new. Following, the juice was fermented naturally with a little malolactic fermentation--a small selection sees partial malo to add complexity and soften the wine's refreshing, crunchy acidity.