2023 By Farr GC Cote Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml

The GC Chardonnay (GC – Gary Charles) is attributed to all the knowledge we have been able to extract from Gary to create a close planted / high density planting of Chardonnay on an exposed côte. This is our tribute to what ‘Gazza’ has achieved and provoked over 40 years not only in our region but for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of Australia. These hillsides facing North, North East and East will be the backbone of the Farr dynasty for decades to come. The wine has an amazing smoothness and calmness that stretches the length of the palate, surrounded with textured fruit and mineral elements. We have been playing with the fruit from these vineyards for more than 8 years, fine tuning the style of wine that these vineyards are producing. What a result once it all came together.. Nick Farr, Winemaker

Trying this at room temp, partly because I forgot to chill it, partly because I find it interesting. When I opened it, I’m wholly thrilled. There’s a moment of real excitement, which I can imagine seems nerdy, like a trainspotter spying a big dirty freight train rumbling toward them. It probably shouldn’t be this exciting, but it is. The wine that is, not the train so much.  Depending on the background, the colour seems generous. Even with a white stone bench top behind it, it has a lovely golden shimmer. It smells perfect. At least to me it does. Wet stones, struck match, ginger, lime, stone fruit and white florals. The palate at this temperature is a riot. Intense and powerful, it’s electric and relentless, the fruit expression more than a match for it. This is the very definition of how tension makes wine so exciting. It’s balanced, and at full stretch, it delivers a perfect result. Could you soften it with a decant? Sure, but then you’d miss the thrill. It’s hard to describe exactly why it’s so exciting, if you write it down, as I’ve done, it’s just words on a screen. If you get a chance to have some of these words in your glass, I’d suggest you don’t pass it up. Ben Knight, Critic