Granjoux Beechworth Chardonnay 2022

Granjoux Beechworth Chardonnay 2022

only 650 bottles produced.

The chardonnay was handpicked on Wednesday March 09, 2022. The 0.83 tonne of fruit was then chilled down and stored overnight. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed into tank, and then racked off heavy solids into French (two-year-old) 500L oak puncheons, where it fermented and matured on lees from 10th March. The wine stayed on lees for 16-months, prior to being bottled in July 2023.

After the impactful 2021 release, the 2022 Chardonnay has some big boots to fill. Aromatically, the wine is not as reductive as last year and leads with lilac, white
florals, tarragon, lavender, mint and white peach. There's a register of salted nuts
(pistachio, cashew, etc.) and flinty, slate-inflected character in the backdrop. In the
mouth, the wine is focused and citrusy, with scratched lemon peel, beeswax,
hawthorn flowers, pineapple husk, nettles and green apples. It is so different from
the last vintage, but to me, this is potentially even more eloquent of the place, given
the backseat driving of the winemaking. This is a quieter, more precise rendition of
this vineyard and a welcome one at that. The acidity through the finish might clip the
fruit flavours a little, but I would suggest this will quiet down over the next few years
as the fruit blossoms around it. Great. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Drink: 2024 – 2027

95 Points - Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate