2021 Lowestoft 'La Meilleure' Chardonnay

Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania, Australia

Grape: Chardonnay

Culinary Suggestions: Seared Scallops, Buttery Lobster, Creamy Pasta Dishes

Vineyard Practice: Sustainable, Vegan

About

Lowestoft is the jaw-dropping Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sparkling wine project of the Fogartys, whose Australian beginnings in fact date back to the mid-1800s when Patrick Fogarty arrived in Tasmania. Fitting then that they have returned, so to speak, to the Apple Isle.

The grand ‘stoft’ aka house at Lowestoft was constructed by Thomas Lowes who arrived in the 1820s and was built in the image of that of Napoleon Bonaparte in Paris. The property is high on a hill overlooking the Derwent River and across to Mona and Lowestoft Bay, and these days, in what was once the front garden, lies a fabulous 3ha close-planted vineyard of old-vine Pinot Noir planted in 1986 by then owner Bernard McKay from Moorilla estate cuttings. Previous to the current ownership the fruit went in various directions – Bream Creek and Heemskirk to name a few. The best of these old-vine-plantings make up the top ‘La Maison’ Pinot Noirs, augmented with fruit from growers' vineyards in the ‘Estate’ wines.

It’s clearly a very special site which is why when Liam McElhinney was approached to get involved, he made up his mind pretty quickly to do so. Liam is a cool climate winemaking expert with previous experience at New Zealand’s Marisco, Te Pa and Trinity Hill wineries, as well as working in France, Canada and the United States, and has already achieved phenomenal success with Lowestoft - though you still get the feeling the best is yet to come. - Distributor Note

Tasting Notes

Peach, pear, grapefruit and lime, brine, struck match, almond meal, aniseed and spice. It’s a juicy number, cinnamon oatmeal, lime pie, chalky and flinty, some Parmesan rind umami quality, electric acidity through a creamy frame, with a long finish that’s all chalk dust and lime rind. So distinctive and individual. A great glass of Chardonnay here.

96 points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front November 2023

Drink: 2023 - 2028+