2025 G.C Chardonnay

The GC Chardonnay (GC – Gary Charles) is attributed to all the knowledge we have been able to extract from Gary to create a close planted / high density planting of Chardonnay on an exposed côte. These hillsides facing North, Northeast and East will be the backbone of the Farr dynasty for decades to come. They consist of the most suitable clones, rootstocks, trellising and management you will find for our landscape.

This is our tribute to what ‘Gazza’ has achieved and provoked over 40 years, not only in our region but for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of Australia.The North côte is a red to brown loam with buckshot stones across the surface. The most exposed of the three côtes, the North côte is harvested last of all because of the large amount of clay, holding valuable moisture for a much longer time than the other slopes. The East côte is divided through the centre of the slope by a rise. Black volcanic soil with fragmented limestone in one direction and grey loam with buckshot stones in the other direction. Soil is King as the East côte has the least amount of clay and therefore least water-holding capacity resulting in it being harvested first even though it is the coolest côte of the three.

The fruit is handpicked and then whole bunch pressed in the winery. All the solids are collected and chilled before being put to barrel which are 50% new French oak. A natural fermentation will occur at cool temperatures over the next 1-2 months, and then a small amount of stirring helps to start malolactic fermentation. The wine is then racked, fined and lightly filtered before bottling 11 months after picking.

"My vocabulary defaults to words like fragile and brittle, but it’s not right.  Neither sinew, nor high pitched do this wine justice.  It’s like porcelain; translucent, strong, beautiful and pure.  

Don’t make the same mistake I did and drink this straight from the fridge, it’s too cold.  This wine is reluctant when it’s 4 degrees, a reluctance that becomes confidence as it warms slightly.  

The colour of the wine has the slightest green hint, otherwise bright and clean.  The nose smells of chalky soil struck pebbles and a saline citrussy note too.  As it warms in the glass it seems to stand 2 inches taller, it shows ginger, apple, cinnamon and vanilla. The fruit is sleek and persistent.  It’s neither jammy nor too restrained.  

It tastes like a cool glass of Chardonnay in the white stoned town square in Meursault, but of course, it is more unique than that.  Whilst Burgundy has hundreds of wineries, the little hamlet of Bannockburn, in the outskirts of Geelong might count as many as 5."

- BEN KNIGHT, CRITIC