Mulline Sutherlands Creek Chardonnay 2022

Warmer and drier site than Portarlington, lot’s of clay in the subsoil. Grey and Brown loams on Fragmented Granite. Planted in 1998. Hand picked, pressed straight to barrel, no pre ferment racking. 30% new French Oak, full solids, No malolactic, Elevage on full solids for 8 months.

“This cuvee is more ‘traditional’ in the style of Geelong Chardonnay. Fruit profile very similar to other producers nearby. Bit more oak use, which helps tone down the fruit profile. P58 Clone which is all Nectarines and Melon Rind. The Chardonnays are made very reductively, so trying to keep them as fresh as possible, and not let them blow out to be too overdone. We get so much flavour already in the wines, so this is all about building texture, tension and complexity with acid/oak/lees”– Ben Mullen

“The 2022 Sutherlands Creek Chardonnay is composed and svelte, with layers of orchard fruit, steely acidity and sleek phenolics. Quite a rich wine, opulent even, within the confines of the very modest alcohol. Classy. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. .” – 93 Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate