Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay
2024 Chardonnay
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2024
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.3%
- pH
3.11
- Acidity
8.2
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date
December, 2024
- Harvest Date
February, 2024
- 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: 1986 Elevation: 380 metres Soil Type: Volcanic loam (red / ferrous) Aspect: North and south facing slopes Size: 13 Hectares Situated in the Upper Yarra Valley in the sub-region of Gladysdale, Bastard Hill is a 31-hectare property with 13-hectares (32 acres) of vines, planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s expressive name is derived from its steep slope and high altitude, ranging in elevation from 300-400m. Bastard Hill is a celebrated site planted in the late 1980s by viticultural legend Ray Guerin. Dedicated initially to the production of super-premium sparkling wine, the site was quickly recognized for its potential to produce top quality still wines, releasing the Bastard Hill Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the great Chardonnay sites in Australia, the 2023 vintage is our first release in the Giant Steps portfolio. We find Bastard Hill produces concentrated and rocky wines of purity and focus.
- Winemaking
100% handpicked - very small bunches. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermentation in 500L French puncheons, some of which went through malolactic fermentation (25%). Maturation for 9 months in used French oak – 20% new and 80% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential
Now - eight years
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2024
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13.3%
- pH
3.11
- Acidity
8.2
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date
December, 2024
- Harvest Date
February, 2024
- 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: 1986 Elevation: 380 metres Soil Type: Volcanic loam (red / ferrous) Aspect: North and south facing slopes Size: 13 Hectares Situated in the Upper Yarra Valley in the sub-region of Gladysdale, Bastard Hill is a 31-hectare property with 13-hectares (32 acres) of vines, planted exclusively to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s expressive name is derived from its steep slope and high altitude, ranging in elevation from 300-400m. Bastard Hill is a celebrated site planted in the late 1980s by viticultural legend Ray Guerin. Dedicated initially to the production of super-premium sparkling wine, the site was quickly recognized for its potential to produce top quality still wines, releasing the Bastard Hill Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the great Chardonnay sites in Australia, the 2023 vintage is our first release in the Giant Steps portfolio. We find Bastard Hill produces concentrated and rocky wines of purity and focus.
- Winemaking
100% handpicked - very small bunches. Whole bunch pressed, juice transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling. Fermentation in 500L French puncheons, some of which went through malolactic fermentation (25%). Maturation for 9 months in used French oak – 20% new and 80% seasoned, Mercurey, Taransaud and Dargaud & Jaeglé.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential
Now - eight years
Kind Words & Accolades
