Sailor Seeks Horse Chardonnay 2020

This tiny vineyard is one of Australia’s most southerly located in the Huon valley in southern Tasmania. Paul and Gilli Lipscombe own the vineyard and make the wines and both have considerable vineyard and winemaking experience behind them including winning the Jimmy Watson trophy for Home Hill where they have been the winemakers in recent years. From working together in the Languedoc to New Zealand, Oregon and Margaret River they spent a lot of time researching and considering the best possible vineyard site with the aim  to produce Australia’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay finally settling on this ideal north facing vineyard which is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds. Best described as a warm site within a cool climate, the soil is free-draining quartz inflected mudstone soil over clay. The vineyard is planted to a large variety of Dijon clones as well as numerous other clones planted by the previous owners and all vineyard work is done as organically as possible. In 2019 a new planting including some Trousseau has been made on the steep north-west facing slope beside the main vineyard block.

With high natural acidity we decided to put a few more of the barrels through malolactic fermentation than in warmer years and this gives a hint of richness to the wine. It was also whole-bunch-pressed to retain the super-fine structure of the year. - Gilli Lipscombe.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal -  Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Tasmania 
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.3%