Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2020 $28
Central Otago has really upped its chardonnay game and I’m BEYOND fizzing about this. So when I was told the folk at Folding Hill (one of my favourite pinot noir producers) were launching their debut chardonnay, I did a happy dance, because I was sure it’d be great. And lo. It proved to be. Made by winemaker Fred Reinds from grapevine clones Mendoza, UCD 6 & 15 and B95 that were planted in 2016 and picked on May 1st 2020, this roast peach and creamy cashew-crammed chardonnay is pretty darn dreamy. Whole-bunch pressed then quickly transferred to French oak barriques (12.5% of which were brand new) where the juice fermented entirely in the barrels and then went through 100% malolactic fermentation to inject delicious layers of buttery, creamy characters. Delicious!
