Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay

Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay

2025 Chardonnay

Yarra Valley, Victoria

$95.00
    2026 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
    Gold Medal
    Halliday Wine Companion
    "Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in '97, and only 2ha of its 11ha are planted to chardonnay. Fermented and matured in neutral puncheons. While this is a little richer than the '24, all the hallmarks of this vineyard are still here. Light stone fruits, lemon, white flowers and a little flint. The palate is equally restrained, with a lovely fine vein of acidity that runs through the wine. Finishes long and precise. An Applejack that can be enjoyed now and over the next five to seven years." - Philip Rich
    96+ points, July 2026.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2025
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13%
    • pH

      3.18

    • Acidity

      6.4

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      16 February, 2025

    • Harvest Date

      10 December, 2025

    • Background

      Single Vineyard

    • Vintage Notes

      The 2025 season kicked off with a generous, wet winter that filled the soil profile with moisture. From there, spring arrived warm and dry. Shoots pushed early; we had fantastic spring conditions during flowering and fruit set. The dry season pushed growth and ripening along even though temperatures weren’t hot, in fact barely warmer than average, a pleasant surprise for the dryness of the season. Harvest came earlier than usual and moved quickly, a compressed vintage that asked a great deal of the team and rewarded the effort with fruit of exceptional quality, concentration and weight.

    • 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, set on a dramatic, closely planted slope in the Upper Yarra Valley. Planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997, its higher altitude creates a cooler, longer growing season, and it is often picked later than our lower-altitude vineyards. While Applejack is predominantly planted to Pinot Noir, it includes a small 1.8-hectare parcel of Chardonnay, often yielding just six barrels from the site. Applejack Chardonnay is defined by purity and precision, with lemon curd, wet rock and mineral-focused characters. The wines are fine-boned and ceramic-like in structure, with clarity, tension and quiet intensity.

    • Winemaking

      100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. No bâtonnage. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in French oak 12% New, 88% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud, Dargaud & Jaeglé.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight years

    2026 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
    Gold Medal
    Halliday Wine Companion
    "Applejack vineyard was planted at Gladysdale by Ray Guerin in '97, and only 2ha of its 11ha are planted to chardonnay. Fermented and matured in neutral puncheons. While this is a little richer than the '24, all the hallmarks of this vineyard are still here. Light stone fruits, lemon, white flowers and a little flint. The palate is equally restrained, with a lovely fine vein of acidity that runs through the wine. Finishes long and precise. An Applejack that can be enjoyed now and over the next five to seven years." - Philip Rich
    96+ points, July 2026.

    Wine Details

    • Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
    • Vintage 2025
    • Type White Wine
    • Variety Chardonnay
    • Volume 750ml
    • Alcohol Volume 13%
    • pH

      3.18

    • Acidity

      6.4

    • Closure ScrewCap
    • Bottling Date

      16 February, 2025

    • Harvest Date

      10 December, 2025

    • Background

      Single Vineyard

    • Vintage Notes

      The 2025 season kicked off with a generous, wet winter that filled the soil profile with moisture. From there, spring arrived warm and dry. Shoots pushed early; we had fantastic spring conditions during flowering and fruit set. The dry season pushed growth and ripening along even though temperatures weren’t hot, in fact barely warmer than average, a pleasant surprise for the dryness of the season. Harvest came earlier than usual and moved quickly, a compressed vintage that asked a great deal of the team and rewarded the effort with fruit of exceptional quality, concentration and weight.

    • 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, set on a dramatic, closely planted slope in the Upper Yarra Valley. Planted by respected viticulturist Ray Guerin in 1997, its higher altitude creates a cooler, longer growing season, and it is often picked later than our lower-altitude vineyards. While Applejack is predominantly planted to Pinot Noir, it includes a small 1.8-hectare parcel of Chardonnay, often yielding just six barrels from the site. Applejack Chardonnay is defined by purity and precision, with lemon curd, wet rock and mineral-focused characters. The wines are fine-boned and ceramic-like in structure, with clarity, tension and quiet intensity.

    • Winemaking

      100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred directly to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking full lees. Wild fermented in 500L French oak puncheons. No bâtonnage. No malolactic fermentation. Maturation for 9 months in French oak 12% New, 88% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud, Dargaud & Jaeglé.

    • Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential

      Now - eight years

    Kind Words & Accolades