About The Wine
A ripe, gently textural Chardonnay layered with yellow apple, quince, toasted cashew and spice, balanced by sleek acidity, green almond bite and a riverstone finish—elegant, expressive and a delight to drink.
The Avon Chardonnay comes from a single hectare of old vines planted in 1987 at the Avon Vineyard, located in Maffra, Gippsland. Naturally lower yielding, these vines produce small, intensely flavored bunches that capture the purity and character of the site.
With the help of ideal ripening conditions, the fruit came in beautifully balanced, carrying a fine line of minerality drawn from the quartz- rich soils of the vineyard. The fruit was hand- picked into 15kg baskets and hand-sorted directly into the press. Whole bunches were gently pressed, with the juice briefly settled in tank before being transferred to barrel for fermentation.
The wine remained on full lees for 10 months, with barrels stirred once or twice prior to the completion of malolactic fermentation. It matured in French oak, 30% of which was new, and was racked in January before bottling in February 2025.
About Xavier Goodridge
Xavier Goodridge crafts idiosyncratic expressions of Pinot Noir born on his organically farmed vineyard in Gippsland’s Maffra, the Gunaikurnai Country. In collaboration with exceptional growers from Mount Gambier and Henty, he sources the highest quality grapes for his Papa range. With the light touch in the winery, Xavier lets the wines speak of the land.
Snapshot
Region: Gippsland, VIC
Country: Australia
Alcohol: 13.5%
Vintage: 2024
Size: 750ml
Closure: Wax sealed cork
Varietal: Chardonnay
