Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay

Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay

2024 Chardonnay

Yarra Valley, Victoria

$95.00
    The Wine Front
    “Small volume, 30% ceramic egg. Reserved, powerful, super complex nose, smoky, spicy, citrus oils and juice, into stonefruit, into an earthen aspect. This is for the cellar and this is super. Aftertaste brings grapefruit and apple skins, texture, mineral, stones. Outstanding Applejack Chardonnay. Intense and pure but with layers of character. Reserved power. One of the most characterful Applejack chardonnays I’ve tasted. No new oak. It’s not exaggerated or in your face but this just has all the extras.” - Campbell Mattinson
    97 points, August 2025.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2024
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13.3%
    • pH

      3.05

    • Acidity

      8.0

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      February, 2024

    • Harvest Date

      December, 2024

    • Background

      Single Vineyard

    • Vintage Notes

      The 2024 vintage was a more classic Yarra season. A cool start to Spring and ideal flowering conditions led to good fruit set and moderate yields. December was cool and mild, with significant rainfall at New Years and during the first week of January, giving the vines a good drink leading into the heat of February. Mid to late February was drier and warmer than is common in the Yarra, leading to great ripening conditions with no disease pressure and quite a fast vintage. In 2024, all of our Pinot and Chardonnay was ready in quick succession, leading to a compressed harvest - with the whole valley picked in the space of 3 weeks (where it normally spreads across 6 weeks). An exciting ride for our team, but ultimately giving us wines with great flavour, bright acidity and balance.

    • Vineyard Notes

      Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1997 Elevation: 220-320 metres Soil type: Grey clay loam over black (basalt) volcanic base Aspect: East facing slopes Size: 12.5 hectares Applejack Vineyard is a special site, located on a dramatic slope in the upper Yarra Valley and is closely planted and fastidiously managed. It was planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997. The basalt based underlying volcanic soil and rock produce a characteristically fine yet extended, spicy and firm palate. The higher altitude results in a cooler and extended growing season, ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (3-4 weeks later than central Yarra Valley). Chardonnay from Applejack requires lots of attention to detail in the vineyard, with focus put on crop loads and fruit exposure to ensure even ripeness and acid levels. This chardonnay is savoury, with lovely notes of lemon rind and grilled nuts.

    • Winemaking

      100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel and clay egg by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French oak puncheons and a 675 litre open top clay egg vessel. No bâtonnage. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in French oak and clay egg – 10% New, 60% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud, Dargaud & Jaeglé. 30% Clay egg.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight years

    The Wine Front
    “Small volume, 30% ceramic egg. Reserved, powerful, super complex nose, smoky, spicy, citrus oils and juice, into stonefruit, into an earthen aspect. This is for the cellar and this is super. Aftertaste brings grapefruit and apple skins, texture, mineral, stones. Outstanding Applejack Chardonnay. Intense and pure but with layers of character. Reserved power. One of the most characterful Applejack chardonnays I’ve tasted. No new oak. It’s not exaggerated or in your face but this just has all the extras.” - Campbell Mattinson
    97 points, August 2025.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2024
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13.3%
    • pH

      3.05

    • Acidity

      8.0

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      February, 2024

    • Harvest Date

      December, 2024

    • Background

      Single Vineyard

    • Vintage Notes

      The 2024 vintage was a more classic Yarra season. A cool start to Spring and ideal flowering conditions led to good fruit set and moderate yields. December was cool and mild, with significant rainfall at New Years and during the first week of January, giving the vines a good drink leading into the heat of February. Mid to late February was drier and warmer than is common in the Yarra, leading to great ripening conditions with no disease pressure and quite a fast vintage. In 2024, all of our Pinot and Chardonnay was ready in quick succession, leading to a compressed harvest - with the whole valley picked in the space of 3 weeks (where it normally spreads across 6 weeks). An exciting ride for our team, but ultimately giving us wines with great flavour, bright acidity and balance.

    • Vineyard Notes

      Location: Gladysdale Planted: 1997 Elevation: 220-320 metres Soil type: Grey clay loam over black (basalt) volcanic base Aspect: East facing slopes Size: 12.5 hectares Applejack Vineyard is a special site, located on a dramatic slope in the upper Yarra Valley and is closely planted and fastidiously managed. It was planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997. The basalt based underlying volcanic soil and rock produce a characteristically fine yet extended, spicy and firm palate. The higher altitude results in a cooler and extended growing season, ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (3-4 weeks later than central Yarra Valley). Chardonnay from Applejack requires lots of attention to detail in the vineyard, with focus put on crop loads and fruit exposure to ensure even ripeness and acid levels. This chardonnay is savoury, with lovely notes of lemon rind and grilled nuts.

    • Winemaking

      100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel and clay egg by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French oak puncheons and a 675 litre open top clay egg vessel. No bâtonnage. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in French oak and clay egg – 10% New, 60% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud, Dargaud & Jaeglé. 30% Clay egg.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight years

    Kind Words & Accolades