Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Fruit for the Merricks Chardonnay was hand-harvested, hand-sorted and whole-bunch pressed, followed by natural primary fermentation with high levels of solids in François Frères 500-litre puncheons (20% new). A small portion went through natural malolactic fermentation and the wine then rests on full gross lees for 10 months before bottling. Flanders seeks out slow and long lees impact, choosing extended, gentle lees contact over battonage for all his Chardonnays. - Winery note