Domenica Beechworth Chardonnay 2023
The Wine
Harvested over seven picking days spanning almost two weeks from March 1st. The Chardonnay is basket pressed and the juice left to settle in a stainless steel tank overnight. The following morning, the juice is transferred to oak, including two new Stockinger demi-muid, a second use Stockinger demi-muid, two Foudre and the balance of wine to older barriques. The oak in these cellars is absolutely first class and it shows in the glass with its beautiful integration and subtlety. Wild ferment takes only two weeks and the wine sees no malolactic fermentation as the fruit weight here is already generous. The wine was fined but unfiltered early in the new year and bottled.
95 Points Ned Goodwin MW ‘A very fine chardonnay, without quite the precision, detail and tension that I recall from other years. Stone fruit, flint, lanolin, porcini and that regional tattoo of glazed quince. Quinine bitterness at the finale. Mid-weighted and nicely nervous in the mouth, while suitably open-knit enough to breach already. Fine. Drink or hold. Screw cap.’
Ooze's Beechworth. Knockout! TC
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Beechworth
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Domenica sits 460m above sea level atop the granite ridge sweeping away to the south west of Beechworth. The wines are vividly reflective of their origin, a gripping mineral texture encasing the mature vine vitality of the varietals chosen to express it.
Winemaking is traditional. Taste is more important than numbers. The yeasts comes from the site, not a packet. Pressings, solids and lees all play their part completing the picture. The wines are carefully maintained in oak bariques before being bottled unfiltered.
Winemaker Peter Graham cut his teeth at nearby Giaconda, where he worked as assistant winemaker for thirteen years.
