2025 L.A.S. Vino Southern Seas Chardonnay 750ml

Overview

Southern Seas is a new Chardonnay for L.A.S. Vino in 2025, sourced from the cooler southern end of the Cape. Influenced by both the Indian and Southern Oceans, the site delivers naturally higher acidity, tension and freshness. The debut release combines cool-climate precision with texture and depth, shaped by maturation in French barriques and amphora.

Vineyard

The fruit comes from a vineyard at the southern end of the Cape, where increased moisture, greater cloud cover and cooling Southern Ocean breezes create distinctly cooler conditions. The dual maritime influence of the Indian and Southern Oceans extends the growing season, while rich gravelly loam soils contribute to a Chardonnay with naturally higher acidity, tension and layered texture.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked, chilled overnight and gently whole bunch pressed, with only the free-run juice retained. After soft settling and racking off the heavy solids, fermentation took place in a combination of French barriques, 30% new, and amphora. The wine matured for 11 months, underwent no malolactic fermentation, was bottled unfined and received only light filtration before bottling.

Producer Tasting Notes

L.A.S. Vino: “Granny smith apple, ice cream, lemon, lime, wet stone and sea salt. Elegant, silky smooth, fresh and delicious. Think chablis with a bit more oomph.”

Critic Reviews

96 Points — Mike Bennie, The Wine Front: “This has some nerve and pluck. The handrails are just-ripe stone fruit, sugared almonds, brine; the rungs made of wild honey, green apple, bergamot and yuzu. The weave pitch perfect, delivering a bit of volume with a cooling undertow of freshness. It sits up in the glass, drink with a spoon, watch it sizzle and dissolve in the following stanzas. It’s a wine of immense pleasure, deep chardonnay charisma, refreshment factor. Really onto something.”

96 Points — Ray Jordan, W.A. Wine Review: “Creating a wine of brightness, tension, and clean natural acidity. After hand picking and whole bunch pressing, the free-run juice was fermented in a mix of new barriques and amphora. The result is a wine that displays delicacy, yet with deeply intense flavours of lemon meringue, fresh citrus, and subtle vanilla notes. Thoroughly beautiful wine.”

Specifications

• Vintage: 2025
• Grape Variety: Chardonnay
• Region: Karridale, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
• Soil: Rich gravelly loam
• Harvest: Hand-picked
• Pressing: Whole bunch pressed, free-run juice only
• Fermentation: French barriques and amphora
• Maturation: 11 months in French barriques and amphora
• Oak: French barriques, 30% new
• Malolactic Fermentation: None
• Fining: Unfined
• Filtration: Light filtration prior to bottling