Bylines Chardonnay

Hunter Valley Chardonnay

Although the focus of Songlines Estates is the pursuit of the world’s best Shiraz, David Fatches also has a passion for Chardonnay and could not resist pursuing a labour of love when Gabriel’s Paddock Vineyard became available and gave them access to some of the finest 30-year-old Chardonnay vines in the Hunter Valley.

These exceptional vines were planted in 1969 on some of the best red clay over limestone soils in New South Wales. This soil type gives good moisture retention and the northeast facing slopes avoid the hottest direct sun in the afternoons providing ideal conditions for the Chardonnay fruit.

All the vines are hand picked and cropped to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, which is lower than Grand Cru Burgundy!

The Chardonnay grapes require constant attention to deliver the best possible wine. Once again instilling complexity in the wine is the primary goal.

After harvest, a portion of the grapes are crushed as whole bunches in the basket press. The resulting juice receives no sulphur dioxide protection, it is then placed directly into barrel for fermentation, this gives a luxuriant palate and stonefruits to the wine.

Another portion of the grapes is destemmed and crushed, the juice settled and racked and fermentation begins in tank. About halfway through, it is transferred to barrel for complete alcoholic fermentation. This provides more tropical fruit character and a tighter structure to the wine.

The final, smallest portion of grapes are destemmed and crushed then racked. The clear juice is completely fermented at low temperature in tank and receives no malolactic ferment. This enables the acid balance to be restored and adds citrus notes to the wine.

Wines in barrel undergo malolactic fermentation and regular batonage (lees stirring) and are generally wood matured for up to 9 months.

Our Other Wines

Songlines McLaren Vale Shiraz
Bylines McLaren Vale Shiraz
Leylines McLaren Vale Shiraz