Fighting Gully Road Chardonnay 2023
The Wine
Cool climate Chardonnay featuring flavors of grapefruit, melon, white stone fruit, and mineral notes, with a hint of struck match. The palate is rich, even without malolactic fermentation, thanks to the maturity of the vines, which are over 40 years old.
96 Pts Huon Hooke, The Real Review 'Light-mid bright yellow; creamy lees and bread crust aromas, the palate intense and focused, bright and piercing, with great panache and long-lasting finish. The flavours are precise and beautifully harmonised. Superb chardonnay, with high ageing potential.'
95 Pts Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion 'An impressively fragrant, sunny and complex chardonnay from a former Halliday Viticulturist of the Year – the man knows how to both grow and make superb chardonnay with a tapered elegance... who can go past that plush, textural palate immersed in summer stone fruits, oatmeal, roast nuts and struck match enhanced by some striking Beechworth acidity? Not me. It's way too tempting'
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Beechworth
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
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.
