Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
The Brokenwood name is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship, and their Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is a testament to the winery’s dedication to excellence. Sourced from the renowned Beechworth region in Victoria, this Chardonnay showcases the exceptional terroir of one of Australia’s most respected Chardonnay-producing areas. With meticulous attention to detail from vineyard to bottle, Brokenwood has crafted a wine that not only reflects the unique characteristics of the Beechworth region but also elevates the standard for Australian Chardonnay.
Beechworth: A Premier Region for Chardonnay
Beechworth is often hailed as one of Australia’s finest regions for Chardonnay, and for good reason. The cool-climate conditions, combined with the region’s unique soils, provide an ideal environment for growing high-quality Chardonnay grapes. The Indigo Vineyard, where this Chardonnay is sourced, is now nearing 25 years of age, offering vines that produce fruit with remarkable concentration and complexity.
The 2022 growing season in Beechworth presented its own set of challenges. Above-average rainfall throughout 2021 and a particularly wet January made for a challenging growing season with constant disease pressure. However, the rain cleared in February, allowing the vineyard to dry out, which resulted in grapes with excellent natural acidity—a hallmark of this vintage. Careful handpicking ensured that only the best fruit made it to the winery, resulting in a wine of outstanding quality.
Winemaking: Precision and Patience
The winemaking process for the Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is a study in precision and patience. After the grapes were handpicked, they underwent whole bunch pressing, a technique that gently extracts juice while minimising phenolic bitterness. The juice was then allowed to ferment naturally in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels—specifically, 500L puncheons and 228L barriques. This careful use of oak, with 40% new barrels, adds subtle complexity without overwhelming the delicate fruit flavours.
The wine was matured on its lees for nine months, a process that enhances texture and depth, before being bottled in January 2023. The result is a Chardonnay that is both complex and refined, with a balance of bright fruit, acidity, and oak influence that promises to evolve beautifully with further bottle age.
Tasting Notes: Elegance in Every Sip
In the glass, the Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 presents a perfect green-tinted hue, a sure sign of careful fruit and oak management. On the nose, the wine offers a delightful bouquet of grapefruit and white stone fruits, with lifted notes of toasted cashew from the French oak. These aromas are not just inviting but also indicative of the wine’s balance and sophistication.
The palate is where this Chardonnay truly shines. Flavours of grapefruit pith and white nectarine carry through, offering a long, balanced finish that is both vibrant and satisfying. The wine’s fine texture is complemented by bright citrus acidity, making each sip refreshing and complex. This Chardonnay is undoubtedly one of the best expressions from the Indigo Vineyard to date, showcasing the region’s ability to produce world-class wines.
Food Pairing: A Perfect Match for Rich Dishes
The Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is a versatile wine that pairs beautifully with a range of dishes. Its bright acidity and complex flavours make it an ideal companion for rich, savoury dishes that can stand up to its intensity.
One of the best pairings for this Chardonnay is roast chicken, where the wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of the meat, while the citrus and stone fruit flavours complement the dish’s natural sweetness. Another excellent pairing is porchetta, a succulent Italian roast pork dish seasoned with herbs and garlic. The wine’s acidity and oak influence balance the richness and fatty textures of the porchetta, creating a harmonious dining experience.
For those who enjoy seafood, this Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with grilled lobster or creamy seafood pasta, where its acidity and subtle oak notes enhance the delicate flavours of the seafood.
Aging Potential: A Wine Built to Last
While the Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is drinking beautifully now, it is also a wine that will reward those with the patience to cellar it. With its balance of fruit, acidity, and oak, this Chardonnay is built to age gracefully over the next 5 to 10 years. As it matures, expect the wine to develop more complex flavours, with the fruit softening and the oak becoming more integrated, revealing additional layers of nuance and depth.
A Beechworth Beauty
The Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is more than just a wine; it is a celebration of the Beechworth region and the craftsmanship that goes into every bottle. From the careful fruit selection to the precision in the winemaking process, this Chardonnay reflects the dedication of the Brokenwood team to producing wines of exceptional quality.
Whether you’re enjoying it now or setting it aside to age, this Chardonnay is sure to impress with its elegance, complexity, and potential for further development. It is a wine that informs, educates, and entertains the palate, offering a true taste of one of Australia’s premier Chardonnay regions.
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