Chardonnay, 'The Duc - McIntyre Vyd'

Score

96

"Brooding, powerful, with a textural, stately delivery and savoury, mineral bass notes of basalt, bath salts, creamy cashew and sourdough to the fresh fig. Curry leaf and lime zest notes emerge on day two. A firm backbone of acidity and back-palate resonance suggest it will be long lived. Like Robinson, barrel-fermented with 100% natural yeast, 100% malolactic fermentation and aged for around 10 months in French oak, 10% new. Impressive."

Score

96

"The 2023 Chardonnay The Moorooduc McIntrye radiates with finesse from start to finish and is a wine that impresses for its composure and subtlety rather than sheer power. Open-knit nectarine and peach skin aromas are laced with exotic florals and prominent oak, not out of place. Fantastic texture follows. It's creamy but has fresh acidity, providing energy to a drying and exceedingly long finish supported by attractive oak tannins. It's a keeper, and don't even think about opening it for at least five years to see it at its best."

Score

93

"The 2023 The Moorooduc McIntyre Chardonnay leads with crushed nuts and pressed flowers, orchard fruit and shaved nutmeg. In the mouth, the wine is laced with mouthwatering acidity and sits on a savory register: straw and dry grass, cracked autumn leaves and lanolin. The phenolics through the finish are firm"fine but firm"and the flavors that linger are about stewed apple, burnt butter and fennel. This is a beautiful wine, but it needs time. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."