Lowestoft Chardonnay 2020

HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2022

100% Coal River Valley chardonnay; hand picked; whole-bunch pressed; wild fermented and aged 9 months in seasoned French oak barrels; 50% with sulphur dioxide and 50% without, with 3 months bâtonnage. The Fogarty Group has made quite a splash in Tasmania and wines like this make a serious statement about their confidence to play at the top end. The cool 2020 season defines impressive flinty, mineral texture and enduring acid drive, energising perfectly ripe white fruits and impeccably integrated oak. 95 points.

95

GARY WALSH, THE WINE FRONT 2022

Tasted alongside the 2019, and while 2020 was a cooler vintage, it also seems to have received a more subtle touch in the winery, which is good. I could be wrong! Subtle wine, all crunch and saline/mineral stuff, discreet spicy oak, pink grapefruit and fennel, fine dusty texture, and a cool feel to it, with salted citrus, and subtle umami flavours, and a long finish that feels good and ‘natural’. Not the power of the 2019, but more stylish, and better to drink. So lovely. 95 points.