Bindi Kostas Rind Chardonnay 2025

Bindi Kostas Rind Chardonnay 2025
This is a very fine Kostas Rind, coming from the volcanic soils over clay on the lower Bindi
Chardonnay plantings from 1988. Destemmed berries go into the press and the juice is
taken straight from the tray into the barrels, around 25% of which are new small French oak.
The fermentation occurs without yeast addition and the wine remains on all lees for ten
months until just prior to bottling. This is the 35th harvest from these vines and the soils and
plants are in excellent health, in particular after two decades of a dedicated focus on
building humus and microbiological life. This wine is fresh and fragrant and very fine. There
are lemon and lime aromas working alongside white flowers, some oak spice and flint and
mealiness from lees ageing. Given time, aromas of cashew and almond emerge. The palate
is vibrant and racy with lovely texture and grip driving a long, flowing finish. Perhaps seven
years are required to see this win approach its peak where history tells us that it will remain
for a decade or so." Michael Dhillon, Bindi

Oh boy! what an absolute weapon of a nose - chalk dust, yellow orchard fruits, quince, there's a level of weight and a step up in fruit intensity comparative to the 2024 release. Maybe not an increase, but maybe a shift of framing from white fruit to more yellow spectrum. This has such a beautiful thread of tension throughout, gracefully put together with enough oak to carry the fruit, but never sitting out of place - so too the acidity, just crystalline and with this tactile phenolic grip that adds a layer of complexity and an endpoint. Beautifully captured fruit, carried and harnessed majestically to the finish. Bravo!!