Meerea Park 2021 XYZ Chardonnay

 

What's going on here? A leading Hunter Valley wine producer releasing a chardonnay made from grapes grown in the King Valley in north-east Victoria? Simple really, the grapes grown on the blocks that normally provide fruit for this wine were damaged by smoke taint from bush fires near the Hunter. If you like your chardonnays clean, crisp and precise then this delivers. Whole-bunch pressed, barrel fermented in new oak puncheons but no malo. Bloody delicious with some pan-fried calamari - and if chardy is not your thing then the 2022 semillon under the same label is equally enticing. $30. www.meereapark.com.au