Curly FlatChardonnay Cellar Release

2015 Curly Flat Chardonnay

“Broad, ripe nose. Not tropical, but with fleshy stone fruit, cashews and lemons. The palate has a mineral quality that balances the ripeness of the fruit. Fresh, taut, and concentrated with well-integrated oak. Fine job.” 95 Points Decanter Wine

2016 Curly Flat Chardonnay

“Footy player power, ballet dancer delicacy. Delicious full bodied Victorian Chardonnay.” 95 points Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Reviewer

“Lots of tension with very bright fruit. Lots to bite on. Crystal clear.” 17 points Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com

2017 Curly Flat Chardonnay

“This has bunch and weight in equal measure. Fuller-bodied with stone fruit, lemony tones; creamy and very moreish thanks to its restrained nutty/leesy flavours. There’s complexity and a vibrancy to the acidity as it glides effortlessly to its long finish.” 95 points James Halliday, Wine Companion

2018 Curly Flat Chardonnay

“Complex, yet pure, this is full of peach, lemon, brioche pastry, fresh new oak and green mango. The palate has richness and a seamless arc of fruit flesh that is nailed into place with mouth-watering acidity. Carries the oak effortlessly on the palate. Impressive and so resolved, this is their best chardonnay to date. Drink or hold.” 96 points, Nick Stock (jamessuckling.com)

2019 Curly Flat Chardonnay

“This white is evocative. There’s some cookie dough and mealy oak/lees on the nose but the palate doesn’t follow through with the suggested width. No, it’s lean and taut. There are layers too – oak and winemaking playing a part, but the fruit well up to the job. Complex and fresh? Goldilocks wine this, and utterly involving because of it.” 95 points, Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Review

2020 Curly Flat Chardonnay

““… the chardonnay vines at Curly Flat are nearly 30 years old now. Which is pretty significant. 2020 was a super-low yield year so this is in lower supply than usual. It’s a wine of wonderful intensity. I drank a full two glasses, which is unusual for me and white wine, and I kept being struck by the force of flavour. It’s long and elegant too, controlled, driven by stone fruit but laced with custard apple, cedarwood, pear and chalk. There’s ample juice here but it has a lovely dryness through the finish; almost a textural dryness, hence the chalk reference. This is an excellent release, perfectly balanced, flavoursome and finessed.” 95 points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

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Other vintages

Each cellar release pack contains one bottle each of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Curly Flat Chardonnay.

About the seasons

2015

An overall warmer season, outside of a cooler than average December and March. Rainfall was overall lower than usual for all months (Sep-Apr). White stone fruits & lemon curd mesh with grapefruit acid drive and is only emboldened by the spice of 50% new oak and savoury impact of 50% malolactic fermentation.

2016

Our second warmest growing year behind 2007, along with low rainfall akin to the prior 2015 season led to a more powerful and concentrated expression. Riper yellow stone fruit spectrum along with citrus peel combine with vanillin spice of 37% new oak while the more restrained 20% MLF enlivens the palate with vibrant acidity.

2017

Here we see a return to a cooler and wetter season, especially for the Spring. Summer swayed with its heat starting with a warm December, to a cool February than back to our warmest March on record. Crisp white peach & nectarines, lemon zest, and wood spice driven by 35% new oak that lends to the mineral textured backbone enriched by 65% MLF.

2018

A return to warmer growing season but ultimately one that provides for richness and elegance in the same glass. A warm spring and summer along with moderate to good rainfall set up were then met by a cooler autumn to finish the season almost perfectly. Rich white peach, ripe grapefruit, and citrus drive that’s gently framed by the 20% new oak. The expansive, creamy palate glows with minerality and richness of 65% MLF.

2019

Another warm season with December & January seeing above average heat along with a slightly warmer March. Other months either saw average warmth or just below. Rainfall was scarce where we received 41mm between January and April (average is 184mm!). The combined effect of this warmth and dryness, along with 35% new oak and 65% MLF, has led to a wine of thrilling intensity with its concentrated, fleshy stone fruits along with scintillating length.

2020

Overall 2020 was a cooler year but it did have pockets of decent warmth throughout. The cooler spring led then to warmer than average December providing with the remaining season providing only gentle warmth. Rainfall was moderate to below average, outside of a late flourish in March. The resulting wine is possibly our most balanced release to date with its seemingly seamless triptych of white stone fruits & earthen spice, phenolic grip, and mineral tension with the inputs of 27% new oak and 65% MLF adding further dimension and shape.

Curly Flat
Chardonnay Cellar Release

2016 Chardonnay

2017 Chardonnay

2018 Chardonnay

2019 Chardonnay

2020 Chardonnay

2015 Chardonnay

Other vintages

2015

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