Serrat Chardonnay 2023
Made by Tom and Nadège Carson from grapes grown on intensely close planted vines.
Lemon blossom and dried herbs, grapefruit and lemon, with a shimmer of nougat/lees/oak flavour. The palate is juicy, succulent and its fine line of acidity strings everything together.
Serrat is the family business of Tom Carson (after a 12-year reign at Yering Station, now running Yabby Lake and Heathcote Estate for the Kirby family) and wife Nadège.
They have close planted (at 8800 vines/ha) 0.8ha each of pinot noir and chardonnay, 0.4ha of shiraz and a sprinkling of viognier. Most recent has been the establishment of an esoteric mix of 0.1ha each of malbec, nebbiolo, barbera and grenache. The vineyards are undergoing organic conversion.
As well as being a consummate winemaker, Tom has one of the best palates in Australia and a deep understanding of the fine wines of the world, which he and Nadège drink at every opportunity (when they aren’t drinking Serrat). Viticulture and winemaking hit new heights with the 2014 Yarra Valley Shiraz Viognier named Wine Companion 2016 Wine of the Year.