Ghost Rock Estate Chardonnay 2023

Variety: 100 % Chardonnay
Country, Region: Australia, Tasmania

100 % Chardonnay from the Bonadale, Oulton, and Filles vineyards, where the vines were pruned to 20-25 buds for optimal fruit-to-vine ratios. The hand selected fruit was pressed while still cold, with high solids retained to promote texture and complexity. A mix of wild and inoculated ferments was chosen to gain a full spectrum of flavour. Following alcoholic fermentation the wine underwent partial malolactic and regular lees stirring. Matured in 25 % new French oak barriques for 9 months. Bottled unfined, so vegan friendly.
13.1 % Alc/Vol; 0.7 g/L RS; 3.24 pH; 8.3 g/L TA.

’Pale gold. A lovely aroma expressing the full spectrum of a cool climate Chardonnay. Lime blossom, almond meal, lemon peel, hints of biscuit and chalk. The palate has a generous weight and glossy texture, balanced with a through-line acidity that keeps the flavour going, and going. One of our best years of Chardonnay.’ Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

'In ‘01, Cate and Colin Arnold purchased the former Patrick Creek Vineyard planted exclusively to pinot noir in 1989. The vineyards, situated among the patchwork fields of Sassafras to the south and the white sands of the Port Sorell Peninsula to the north, now total 30ha: pinot noir (14 clones) remains the bedrock of the plantings, with other varieties including chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc. Ownership has passed to son Justin and his wife Alicia (who runs the cooking school and cellar door). Justin’s experience in the Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills), Margaret River (Devil’s Lair) and Napa Valley (Etude) has paid dividends – the business is going from strength to strength, and the capacity of the 100t winery has been tripled. Exports to Japan.' James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion.

Established in 1999, Ghost Rock came to life when Colin and Cate Arnold purchased the Patrick's Creek vineyard (planted in 1989) at Northdown, just outside Devonport in Northern Tasmania. Here, just a few minutes from where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry docks and but an hour's drive from Cradle Mountain, the vineyards enjoy a maritime climate overlooking Bass Strait, producing immaculately ripened fruit of particular freshness and complexity.

Over the ensuing 20-odd years the Arnold family would continue planting out additional vineyards, substantially with Pinot Noir (and a good dozen different clones at that!), but also with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a little Sauvignon Blanc. And before they knew it, they had almost single-handedly created the wine region now dubbed Tasmania's Cradle Coast.

In 2017 Colin and Cate's son Justin and his wife Alicia Peardon took over the business and have continued to turn out new and exciting wines, earning 5-star recognition from the Halliday Wine Companion, amongst many other accolades. Justin takes care of the winemaking, having honed his skills at Coldstream Hills, Devil's Lair and at Etude in California's Carneros Creek, whilst Alicia manages the Cellar Door and Eatery.

Today the wines fall into three ranges: the Estate and Single Vineyard wines are self-explanatory, whilst the Supernatural wines make up Ghost Rock's 'Lo-Fi' range. Or as Justin has put it,

'Creativity and deliciousness rule the roost within this portfolio, bound to one rule only; high quality, estate-grown fruit as the source component. The rest is in the imagination and the craft. The range follows a ‘LoFi’ mantra of being wild ferment driven and exclusively unfined/unfiltered/low SO2.'