Country: Australia
Region: Yarra Valley
Vintage: 2024
Variety: Chardonnay
Alcohol volume: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap

Palate
The exotic fruits of yuzu, ginger snap biscuit and preserve lemon give a wine of energy and drive, finished with a lovely texture from the characteristic Gingin tannins and acidity.

Region notes
Located on the steep north facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the Sexton Vineyard is an icon Chardonnay Vineyard. Being on the higher slopes, topsoil is thin and root systems have established themselves in shallow gravelly loams above a tough rocky clay base. Bunch yields set naturally low in this environment, resulting in intensely flavoured fruit with high skin to juice ratio. The predominant clones are Gingin and Mendoza which produce hens and chickens (large and small grapes on the same bunch), which results in high white tannin and phenolic content to balance the citrus flavours. This vineyard produces our most confident and open chardonnays due to it’s northern aspect and exposure and clonal selection.

Cellaring potential
Now-8 years.

Vinification
100% handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice is transferred to barrel by gravity with no settling, taking on full lees. Wild Fermented in 500L French puncheons. A small amount of bâtonnage post fermentation and 10% malolactic fermentation.

Vintage notes
The 2024 vintage was a more classic Yarra season. A cool start to Spring and ideal flowering conditions led to good fruit set and moderate yields. December was cool and mild, with significant rainfall at New Years and during the first week of January, giving the vines a good drink leading into the heat of February. Mid to late February was drier and warmer than is common in the Yarra, leading to great ripening conditions with no disease pressure and quite a fast vintage. In 2024, all of our Pinot and Chardonnay was ready in quick succession, leading to a compressed harvest - with the whole valley picked in the space of 3 weeks (where it normally spreads across 6 weeks). An exciting ride for our team, but ultimately giving us wines with great flavour, bright acidity and balance.

Philip Rich
97 Points
A blend of Gingin and Bernard clones planted in '97 between 100 and 200m in Gruyere. 20% new oak and 10% mlf. Another salivating and seductive Sexton Chardonnay with its bouquet of stone fruits, preserved lemons, freshly ground coffee beans and roasted hazelnut. The beautifully balanced and tightly coiled palate is underpinned by its concentration and intensity. Finishes saline and extremely long. It's all here and needs another five to seven years, at least, to reach its zenith.

Campbell Mattinson
96 Points
Gentle reduction, stonefruit, brine, ginger, river-stones and a dry, almost salty feel on the finish. Gentle infusion of mango skin and citrus but juicy and fine throughout. There’s so much finesse to this release. There’s fantastic intensity to the fruit too; just when you think it’s finished it keeps on throwing punches. The small make has added, it would seem, to both the power and to the length here. This is a sensational Sexton chardonnay.