Fighting Gully Road Beechworth Chardonnay 2024
The Wine
This cool-climate Chardonnay offers notes of grapefruit, melon, white stone fruit, and mineral, with just a hint of struck match. The palate delivers surprising richness without malolactic fermentation, thanks largely to vines that are now over 40 years old.
95 Pts Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion 'Twelve months in 300L French Tronçais barrels followed by three months on lees in tank before bottling. Chardonnay, the undoubted strength of Beechworth, was one of the first fruits picked in the '24 vintage at FGR, retaining sensational, energised acidity while keeping a pretty tight flavour profile. Spring blossom aromatics mingle with tangy citrus and white peach, grilled nuts and almond nougat with a peach custard-like texture. Clean as a whistle and bright; it moves in a linear line of brisk acidity, going long and dispensing some tart grapefruit pithiness on the finish. It's early days for this little beauty.'
94 Pts Gary Walsh, The Wine Front 'Here’s a Chardonnay with plenty of flavour, though it also keeps itself tight and tidy. Peach, pink grapefruit, cedar, spice, a vanilla creaminess and honey florals, aniseed, with a minor amount of struck match. There’s a juiciness to the wine, balanced acidity, a light chalky texture, an oatmeal savoury element, with a flavoursome finish of excellent length. Such a lovely wine to drink'
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The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Beechworth
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Mark Walpole (former GT Wine Viticulturist of the year) is an out and out Italo-file and responsible for much of the Italian vine material in the country through his tenure at Brown Brothers in the 90s, managing their famous nursery program. Mark’s responsible for so many of the King and Alpine Valleys vineyards we know and love today.
Fighting Gully Road and Smith’s Chardonnay Vineyards sit at atound 550m ASL in the southern end of Beechworth, overlooking the Murmungee Basin. Mark boats an impressive mix of both varietal and clonal sections (some ten different clones of Sangiovese alone), producing pure expressions of Beechworth: Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Verdecchio to name a few.
