2024 Single Plot Chardonnay 'DHH1'

"This has been sourced from a single plot of Gingin chardonnay, and unlike both the Premier and the Heytesbury, gets no new oak. You get a sense of place almost from the first sniff. It’s a bit wild, but complex and intricate. A pure expression of the Gingin clone from a small Wallcliffe vineyard, benefiting from cool climate influence. Powerful and layered, with savoury, mineral, and lemon meringue characters. The palate adds a chalky dryness and savoury element to the long finish."

"A new single plot (it’s been DHJ1 previously so moving a few rows for this, I guess). An exceptional wine regardless. Super savoury yet powerful in a Gingin-clone way, plus it’s beautifully fruited and open, as wines in the ’24 vintage seem to be. A combo of grapefruit, lemon and white nectarine, loads of ginger (both freshly sliced and powder) and some saline/brininess, with nutty, creamy lees adding another layer of definition to the palate. Pure, racy acidity pulls everything in line. It’s moreish and delicious in equal measure.”

"Single plot is quite a site-specific chardonnay, sourced from the “coolest” patch of Gingin clone chardonnay. It undergoes a wild yeast fermentation in seasoned barrels and is unfined, unfiltered. At this early stage, it is restrained, subdued and comes quietly to life after a few swishes of air. It’s in no rush. It remains a wine almost grippy-tannin-tight but, nevertheless, with a rich, complexity building. Aromas carry white peach, melon, nectarine, citrus and biscuit. There is an earthiness to this chardonnay mixed with citrus peel, grapefruit, pear and peach with a lemon curd buttery-ness. It is textural and rich across the middle palate, something to build into as the wine ages. How exciting to see one grape – chardonnay – in three very different styles at the top level of the Vasse Felix chardonnay tree. Price-wise, Single Plot sits between the Premier chardonnay and Heytesbury and in one single vintage like 2024 each brings distinctive personalities to the glass."

“It’s from a single block in Wallcliffe and it sees no new oak (it’s all 1-4 year old oak). It takes time to open up and really strut its stuff but the intensity of fruit flavour, complexity and length here are all of outstanding quality, as too is the all-round juiciness. Grapefruit pulp, grapefruit juice, pear, apple, white peach and green pineapple characters fling into mineral, flint, tonic water, cheese and chamomile. It’s engaging, dramatic, beautifully sustained and complex as all get-out. This is Vasse Felix in top form.”