Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2024
The Wine
This wine is 100% barrel fermented in French oak, with 25-30% being new oak. To enhance complexity, it undergoes natural yeast fermentation and complete malolactic fermentation. It spends ten months on extended lees contact with weekly stirring, followed by another eight months of barrel maturation. The longer time in barrel can limit the wine’s openness for a few months, so patience is key. Minimal handling and filtration help preserve maximum flavour.
96 Pts Mike Bennie, The Wine Front 'There’s something special happening here. It’s the easy start, then the build of texture, then the compact finish. Quite unlike many chardonnay wines, it doesn’t flow in a regal sense. There’s also quite a bit of nougat, vanilla wafer, light toffee elements, a thick wash of salted cashew and then you start to work out that Golden Delicious apple juice, green pineapple, peachy swishes, watermelon rind, ginger, toasty cinnamon and little dashes of white pepper sit in the mix. It’s a flavoursome chardonnay, but also feels effortless and fine, even with its more generous persona. A wine to sit back and relax with, and enjoy all the elements unfurling. Eighteen months to two years is the zone, me thinks, but will go a little further. Date: Nov 2025; Alcohol: 13.8%; Closure: Cork; Drink: 2025-2031.'
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Beechworth
Extra - Cork
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Sorrenberg Vineyard was established in 1984 by Barry and Jan Morey and situated on the outskirts of Beechworth, conveniently near the golf course.
It’s a 3 hectare vineyard at an elevation of 560 meters set mainly on granite rock with a sandy loam. The finesse and elegance of Sorrenberg wines can be attributed to the fact that it is one of the highest vineyards on granite soil in the Beechworth region. The varieties grown included Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Gris and Merlot.
The Moreys have quietly gone about their work over the years and are now considered one of the great small Australian wineries. Biodynamic practices have been employed since 2000, with Demeter certification achieved in 2008.
For the Moreys, the Vineyard and the surrounding environment are all important - all efforts are put into the production of organic and healthy grapes, so the winemaking process does not become the focus. Its the land and its bounty that are the principle aim. Hard to argue against that!
These wines are Australia classics that every wine lover should know about!
