2022 Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown Brunnen Chardonnay

Highly Rated
Classy, elegant Beechworth Chardonnay from two of the region's hottest rising stars.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
1 Review

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Sale price$60.00
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Description

If you are going to make Beechworth Chardonnay, it is fair to say the bar has been set high.

Names like Giaconda, Savaterre and Sorrenberg have set the standard for the region and they are some big shoes to fill. Tessa Brown and Jeremy Schmolzer are making a very good fist of it.

Their Brunnen Chardonnay comes from the vineyard directly across the road from their own block of fledgeling vines way up in the high country behind Beechworth. It is a beautiful site - cool, high and isolated.

The fruit is treated delicately; predominantly older oak, all natural ferments, malo only happens if it wants to. Nothing about this wine feels forced, it feels like it was nurtured into being. If this is the next generation of Beechworth Chardonnay, there's a bright future ahead for the region.

96 points
"This is just lovely. So lovely. It’s bright and intense, but kind of refined and calm too. It offers plenty of almond meal, light spice, fennel, grapefruit, pear and white peach, some floral notes, with a chef’s kiss of flinty struck match, but not much. It’s juicy, has such energy and cool acidity, but also flavour, some creamy richness, and fine chalky grip on a finish of superb length. Beautiful wine. And, because I love almond, in fact, I’m mad for it, it really gets me in. Yes."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points
"Another strong release of this wine... Some toasty cedary oak notes through the finish, too. Restrained power, with great complexity and structure. All class."
- Tom Kline (Wine Pilot)

Bright pale straw. An initially shy yet complex nose melding yellow grapefruit, crushed shells and almond meal, with an overarching and delicately perfumed arbor of white florals.

The citrus zesty and minerally palate shows plenty of energy, with a light balancing of fresh cream to length. Think unripe peach and apricot, crunchy stonefruit flesh, their skins and kernels, building into yellow citrus on the palate.

96 points - "This is just lovely. So lovely. It’s bright and intense, but kind of refined and calm too. It offers plenty of almond meal, light spice, fennel, grapefruit, pear and white peach, some floral notes, with a chef’s kiss of flinty struck match, but not much. It’s juicy, has such energy and cool acidity, but also flavour, some creamy richness, and fine chalky grip on a finish of superb length. Beautiful wine. And, because I love almond, in fact, I’m mad for it, it really gets me in. Yes." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points - "Another strong release of this wine. The making: “Pressed as crushed clusters. Partial solids wild ferment, then full mlf in barrique. 25% new oak. Ten months in oak with monthly stirring, then five months in tank for fine lees tightening before bottling”. There’s a quietness to this wine that draws you into the glass. Subtle nougat, brine, slithered almond, red apple, clotted cream, pastry dough, and a whisper of smoke. The palate has energy and verve, texture and restrained power. Red apple, cream, smoke, pastry dough, and oak spice are wrapped up in chalky phenolics and firm acidity bringing freshness and drawing length. Some toasty cedary oak notes through the finish, too. Restrained power, with great complexity and structure. All class." - Tom Kline (Wine Pilot)

93 points - "A single-vineyard chardonnay that is singularly delightful. Brings both a savouriness and a generosity of fruit to the glass, exploring grilled cashews, fresh baked bread, stone fruit, quince and citrus. The palate is supple, restrained and creamy in texture. A more generous expression of the grape from the maker, built around a tangy mineral base that is very attractive, very Beechworth." - Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)

93 points - "The 2022 Brunnen Chardonnay tastes riper than the Thorley tasted alongside it. Here, the mouth is filled with yellow peach and soft nectarine, almond meal, a whiff of custard powder and crushed shells, pressed rose, preserved lemon peel, blood orange, green tea and caper brine. The wine is plump and weighty without being heavy or cumbersome. Very good." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 1 review
Total 5 star reviews: 1 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
1 review
  • WS Profile picture for Ward S.
    Ward S.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    5 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2019 Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown Brunnen Chardonnay
    Reviewing
    2019 Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown Brunnen Chardonnay
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great modern balance

    This Chardonnay is exceptional. Lemon citrus and mineral with a balanced hit of oak and malo. Recommended;

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Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown

Tessa and Jeremy are playing a long-game with their Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown label.

They have invested in a block of land high in the hills behind Beechworth and have planted 10,000 vines on it over the last couple of years with the plan to farm it organically. Tessa has a wealth of experience from time at Sorrenberg and Kooyong, Jeremy is an architect by trade with an eye for detail.

It comes as no surprise that the buzz around this husband and wife team is palpable and the praise is high. Max Allen called them, “one of a remarkable number of impressive new wine labels to have cropped up in Beechworth over the last five years.”

They are going to be at the forefront of Beechworth wine for many years to come.

Tessa and Jeremy in Thorley vineyard - Beechworth, VIC Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown

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