Dilworth and Allain 'Dashette' Chardonnay 2024
The Wine
‘Dashette,’ or little dash, is an approachable cool-climate Victorian Chardonnay. The grapes are hand-picked and gently pressed, with the juice transferred to a mix of old French oak barrels and a stainless-steel tank. It spent 12 months aging on lees before being racked and blended, followed by an additional 3 months aging on fine lees in the tank.
Established in 1999, Dash Farms sits over 450m above sea level on the southern granitic slopes of Mt Alexander (Leanganook), overlooking Mt Macedon and the Macedon Ranges. Located just outside the Macedon Ranges GI, the vineyard is known for its lean granite soils and high altitude, which bring concentration and freshness at low sugar levels.
The 2024 'Dashette' features aromas of lemon rind, fresh peach, nectarine, toasted almonds, struck match, and sourdough. The palate offers a generous texture balanced by refreshing acidity, showcasing the fruits and a touch of umami complexity. An absolute bargain!
Pic 2: Chris Dilworth at Thecluse 22 Oct 25
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Macedon
Extra - Cork
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Chris Dilworth and Loique Allain established their small négociant style business in 2017. They now have a small winery in Leonards Hill. Working with vineyards across the Macedon Ranges and surrounds, they produce around 1,000 dozen annually. Based in Daylesford with their young family, they’re deeply connected to the region’s creative and growing community.
Chris grew up in hospitality, in his family’s Sydney restaurant the Incinerator before the family moved to a farm in the Hunter Valley, where they grew fruit and a small vineyard. After his first vintage in 2007, he completed a Viticulture and Winemaking degree at the University of Adelaide. His experience includes work with Dean Hewitson, Castello dei Rampolla(Tuscany), Dominique Lafon both in the Macon and Meursault (Burgundy), Morilla Estate (Tasmania), and five years as winemaker at Eastern Peake.
Loique is an artist and printmaker, raised in the Adelaide Hills and Victor Harbor. With a Fine Arts Honours degree from the University of Tasmania. Loique’s artistic practice is grounded in a deeply lived experience of art and its role in culture. Her passion for wine grew while living abroad in France and Italy, where she worked for Paul Pillot and Bernard Van Berg.
Dilworth and Allain's winemaking is inspired by the living culture of wine, the art of fermentation, and the shared experiences of travel, art, and hospitality. Their wines reflect a thoughtful and expressive approach to both place and process.
