2022 Place of Changing Winds Larderdark Chardonnay

Highly Rated
Incredible limited release cool-climate Chardonnay.

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Sale price$160.00
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Description

The Larderdark Chardonnay from Place of Changing Winds stands out for its remarkable concentration and power. The tiny yields from their close-planted Chardonnay vines, coupled with the cool climate, result in a wine of exceptional freshness and drive.

Fermented and aged in glass Wineglobes, an older barrique, and a new 500-litre Dominique Laurent cask, this Chardonnay underwent full malolactic fermentation and was bottled in late 2023. This unique combination of ageing vessels enhances the wine's complexity and depth - another of the meticulous details from Walters that makes this project so unique.

It's a mind-blowingly delicious Chardonnay. The palate is rich and plush, with a long, sweet spice finish and talc-like mineral notes. This elegant wine has garnered high praise, including 96 points from Mike Bennie of The Wine Front.

With only limited quantities produced, the 2022 Larderdark Chardonnay is a rare find. It embodies the meticulous and innovative approach of Robert Walters and his team, making it a must-try for Chardonnay enthusiasts seeking a wine with distinctive character and high acclaim.

96 points
"So elegant, so refined, poise and precision yet with flavour and depth. It opens with flickers of flinty mineral elements, toast and woody spices, sweet spice too, sugared almond, green apple, stone fruits and alpine herbal elements... One of those wines you shake the last drops out of the bottle onto your tongue, or is that just me?"
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96+ points
"The 2022 Larderdark Chardonnay is pure and slippery: it exudes an unfettered fruit profile and a splay of glassy phenolics... This is a remarkably beautiful wine, but it is quite distinct. It doesn't go down the reductive, oaky path; rather, it adheres to ground-based principles of fruit, vast sky and earth. It's a beauty. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax."
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

96 points - "Close-planted vines. The wine rested in glass Wineglobes, the sentient alien looking pods that they are, and two oak casks. So elegant, so refined, poise and precision yet with flavour and depth. It opens with flickers of flinty mineral elements, toast and woody spices, sweet spice too, sugared almond, green apple, stone fruits and alpine herbal elements. The palate a good reflection of this, quite notable concentration and depth, a plushness trimmed with talc-like mineral pucker and a long, palate-staining, sweet spice finish. One of those wines you shake the last drops out of the bottle onto your tongue, or is that just me?" - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96+ points - "The 2022 Larderdark Chardonnay is pure and slippery: it exudes an unfettered fruit profile and a splay of glassy phenolics. The wine is glossy and mineral, with star fruit, shaved fennel, white pepper, sea salt, pink grapefruit, scratched citrus and crushed nuts. The wine is wide without being broad, and it provides textural support upon which the fruit relies. This is a remarkably beautiful wine, but it is quite distinct. It doesn't go down the reductive, oaky path; rather, it adheres to ground-based principles of fruit, vast sky and earth. It's a beauty. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

At this stage in the vineyard’s evolution, the estate’s close-planted Chardonnay vines have only given tiny yields. This has resulted in terrific concentration and power, while the climate has delivered mouth-watering freshness and drive. These two factors make for something unique. Sadly, there’s not much to go around. The wine was fermented and aged in Wineglobe (glass), one older barrique and one new 500-litre Dominque Laurent cask. It underwent malolactic fermentation and was bottled at the end of November 2023.

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Macedon Ranges
Australian State VIC
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2021
Closure DIAM Cork

Place of Changing Winds

The Place of Changing Winds vineyard was planted by notable Australian wine importer, journalist, and author, Rob Walters.

Rob had hunted for a special site to plant in the cooler climes of Australia for many years. One day, esteemed grower/winemaker at Bindi, Michael Dhillon, called him and said, "Rob, I've found your vineyard."

The site sits at 500m above sea level in the Macedon Ranges. Rob has farmed it organically from the start. Planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at an incredible average of 15,000 vines per hectare, this is one of the most exciting emerging viticultural projects in the country.

New to the Place of Change of Winds range are wines from Heathcote high country, organically planted in collaboration with Rhone legend Alain Graillot. These delicious Syrahs, and a Marsanne for the first time from the 2019 vintage, were previously under the Graillot Australia label but are now fully vinified at Place of Changing Winds in Macedon.

Rob Walters at Place of Changing Winds Place of Changing Winds

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