2023 BK Swaby Chardonnay

Highly Rated
BK’s cult Chardonnay from a mature Piccadilly vineyard - layered, distinctive, and right at the top of its game.

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Sale price$47.00
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Description

Brendon Keys isn’t one for quiet wines, and Swaby has never been shy. From a single site in the high hills of Piccadilly, this Chardonnay has become BK’s flagship white - not just for its power and polish, but for how clearly it speaks of place.

Made with a light hand but a sharp eye - wild fermentation, gentle bâtonnage, and 10 months in a quarter new French oak - it’s a wine that balances richness with a firm, mineral core. You’ll find layers here. It's creamy, structured, spicy, and long - everything in its right place, nothing overdone.

The vineyard was planted back in 1987 and Brendon’s been working with it long enough now that it feels like a conversation between old mates - no fuss, no noise, just clarity.

Only 200 dozen made, and it’ll go the distance if you want it to.

95 points
"Savoury spice, saline acidity and rich texture define this god-tier Swaby. Spicy pear, dried lime and bitters meld with layered oak and grip."
- Katrina Butler (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points
"Mineral and citrus-driven with oyster shell, flint, grapefruit pith, lime curd and sea salt. Vivid acidity and old-vine depth from 1987 plantings."
- JamesSuckling.com

95 points - "Swaby is always unapologetically Swaby, and this vintage sees the wine even more defined and immovable. For me, the balance of its savoury spice grit – nutmeg, ginger and cardamom pod – together with its almost furious saline acidic twang, is god-tier drinking. It feels true and almost fibrous, and by that I mean it is a textural marvel. Whole-bunch pressed, bâttonage, unfiltered and unfined with 25% new French oak. You feel the many skeins of flavour woven in. There's are spicy pear, dried lime characters, and funky bitters to it all. An interesting, resolute and whole wine." - Katrina Butler (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Mineral-driven, with layers of citrus peel, lemon-lime sherbet, oyster shells, flint and cheese rind. The palate is medium-bodied with vivid acidity, giving notes of grapefruit pith, honeysuckle, lime curd and sea salt. Some old-vine character from vines planted in 1987. Excellent. Drink or hold." - JamesSuckling.com

Swaby is our – occasionally feisty, at times quirky, always superlative – jewel in the Chardonnay crown. Some years she can require attention and contemplation, and then some she is just forthright and clear in her opinions. 2023 is the latter. Undeniably Chardonnay with notes of lime pith, candied fruit, and a spritz of quince oil with just a perception of sherbert-powder sweetness on the nose. There is incredible density and complexity here and the fineness of perfectly seasoned and intense perfume. The palate is entirely on point with juicy fleshy pear and cardamom pod flavours and then the cut through of acidic length and salivating phenolic grip. Super attractive and inviting; reassuringly self-possessed. 100% Piccadilly Chardonnay, handpicked, wild-yeast fermentation, whole bunch pressed to barrel, some bâttonage, 10 months in 25% new French oak, unfiltered and unfined, only 200 dozen made.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Adelaide Hills
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 12%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

BK Wines

BK Wines is one of the poster boys of the modern artisan wine movement in the Adelaide Hills.

Owner/winemaker Brendon Keys is not afraid to do things differently. His wines toe the line perfectly between a lo-fi and scientific approach to winemaking. The wines are precise, edgy and layered, showing the perfect intersection of a natural wine ideology and sound technical craftsmanship.

His wines are creatively imagined, an artist meets skateboarding punk rocker kind of vibe. And they have a very solid and well-deserved following. In short, BK is one of the more respected producers of the Adelaide Hills avant-garde.

BK in his natural habitat BK Wines

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Shipping

Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more!

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

Sydney (Our Vans): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions our driver will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so if not, they will return the item to us and hold your order until further instruction from you. 

Melbourne (Anonymous Wine Freight): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions, the courier will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so. if not, they will return the item to their dispatch centre and hold until further instruction from you.

Australia Post: Australia Post will leave the parcel if they have been given authority to leave and it is deemed safe to do so. To give your Authority to Leave, please enter this in the 'SPECIAL REQUEST' box at checkout.

Ordering

We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. If you see a lower price elsewhere, just get in touch and we will sort it out for you. We handle all our price-matching on a case by case basis.

Some things to keep in mind: 

  • Retrospective price-matching is available for 30 days after you have purchased from us.
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We'll treat each price match request on its merit and reserve the right to refuse where we deem fit. For example, particularly rare wines, from non-trust-worthy vendors, in circumstances we deem illegitimate or if we feel our policy is being unfairly taken advantage of.

At the end of the day, we'll look after you and use common sense to ensure you're getting the best price, please just don't take the p%$$!

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

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