Chardonnay Adelaide Hills 2026

Generous and open, the 2026 Acmé Chardonnay displays elegance and opulence bound together in a sumptuous embrace. A soft acidity and a beautiful medium palate weight elegantly weave together orchard fruits with complexing notes of roasted nuts and subtle spice.

The 2026 Chardonnay is a true expression of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay. Sourced from blocks in Lenswood and Macclesfield, the unique sites each add their own characteristics to the wine, ultimately creating a complex blend. The Macclesfield site is planted with two different Chardonnay clones (548 and B95), with each grown separately on a gentle slope with a north-westerly aspect. Clay loam soils punctuated by ironstone gravel give intensity to the fruit through great water and nutrient-holding capacity. The site at Lenswood sits at a slightly higher elevation but has soils with a greater clay content, giving the wine more concentration and length.

Gently harvested during the coolest hours before dawn, the grapes went straight into the press via the sorting table, then gently pressed to tank to settle overnight. Racked off the gross lees, the mostly clarified juice was then transferred to a mixture of hogsheads and puncheons, with a total of 15% new barrels, for fermentation. Spontaneous wild MLF occurred during the 5-month maturation period, before the wines were blended and bottled in August.

Grilled whiting, roast chicken or anchovies on toast.