2022 A. Rodda Baxendale Vineyard Chardonnay

Adrian Rodda started making wine in 1998, where he worked at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley for over a decade. In 2010, Adrian moved to Beechworth in Northeast Victoria to make Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in modern Beechworth. In 2012, he started the "Chardonnay Project," where he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and makes wine alongside the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017, a third Chardonnay was added from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands in the cool upper reaches of Northeast Victoria. The Baxendale Vineyard was planted in 1995 on volcanic soils at an elevation of 600m. Handpicked grapes are pressed to 500l French oak barrels (33% being new barrels) for fermentation and 12 months of maturation on lees.

Other Reviews….
Vineyard sits at 600m ASL, planted 1995. All three Rodda Chardonnays are made pretty much the same way, which is a good way to express region/site, aside from the Triangle Block, which gets a bit move of a push in the winery. Friand and spice, floral, melon and grapefruit. Firm acidity, a little green apple, distinctly flinty and chalky, with something of a sappy-sour-edged, yet also slightly creamy almond finish of good length. Pretty tight, but very nice. Drink 2024 - 2029+
94 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front