J&S Fielke Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2021 (Museum Release)
The Wine
Museum Release direct from the Winery!
From a single vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills, this Chardonnay is all about balance. The east-facing vines enjoyed an extended, gentle ripening, giving sky-high acidity, ripe flavour, and modest alcohol.
Their winemaking approach is lo-fi yet precise: whole bunch pressing, a mix of 20% new oak, seasoned oak, and stainless steel, with wild fermentation leading the way. Sulphur was added only after natural malolactic fermentation in late spring. No fining, no filtering—just pure, eight-month-matured Chardonnay.
Now with the benefit of a few extra years under its belt, the 2021 is really hitting its strides. Heaps of personality - bold but precise partly on account of pitch perfect acidity. Understanded sophistication, full of charm and an essay in avant-garde Aussie Chardo. Will provide immense pleasure to 2028+ TC, March 2025
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - South Australia
Sub Region - Lenswood, Adelaide Hills
Extra - Cork
Year - 2021
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
The Buttons family vineyard, planted in the early in 1990s, sits in the idyllic, tree-filled Basket Range region of the Adelaide Hills. It’s here, in the epicentre of Australia’s lo-fi wine movement, that siblings Sophie and Jasper have progressed their mother’s early work to create a label that strives for transparency and unpretentiousness. The resulting wines are vibrant and delicious and speak of site above all else.
Returning home from intrepid travels in 2013, Jasper, after meeting (and subsequently working with) Anton van Klopper of Lucy M fame, recognised his vineyard’s latent potential and aligned himself with a hands-off winemaking philosophy. He, along with his sister Sophie, decided to transition to organic farming practices and today the pair shape some of Australia’s most engaging wines.
The focus is mainly on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both of which make up most of the family’s plantings, with Nebbiolo now also in the mix. In the winery, a varying percentage of whole bunches are employed (depending on the vintage) and gentle macerations are championed to preserve clarity. Low levels of sulphur are used to stabilise the wines, which are aged in seasoned barriques and stainless steel. Bottling occurs by hand at the source. IMBIBO
