PIANO PIANO WINES - Sophie's Block Chardonnay 2018

***Rated 94 Points - GOLD Medal - 2019 Victorian Wine Show***

***We have met Marc and Lisa, not only do they make tremendous wine but they are very nice people as well! Definitely one of the best Victorian Chardonnay's we've tried for the price!***

A cooler and slightly wetter than average winter delayed the start of the growing season. The vineyard experienced regular rainfall and warm temperatures throughout the spring. This was followed by warm and dry summer months. Even though the temperatures during the ripening period were slightly up on average, we did not experience any days of extreme heat. This consistently warm weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full flavours.

The grapes were hand picked in late February and early March. This wine was made using traditional Burgundian techniques and the grapes were destemmed and gently pressed. Wild fermentation occurred with the vineyard’s indigenous yeast in French oak barriques and hogsheads. There was no malolactic fermentation and limited barrel stirring to maintain the acid drive and structure of the wine.

This elegant Chardonnay has attractive dried herbs, cashew, some tight grapefruit, minerals and a fine integrated oak. The palate is lively and complex finishing with a fantastic length highlighting the pedigree of this wine.

13.0% alc, pH 3.27, TA 6.4 g/L.
Drink now – 2023 

In Italian, ‘piano piano’ means ‘slowly slowly’, or, in other words, ‘It will come with time’. It is how Marc Scalzo and his wife Lisa Hernan feel about making wine. It takes time – to learn, to make and to enjoy.

As traditional vignerons, Marc Scalzo and Lisa Hernan have set about planting Chardonnay and Shiraz vines on their picturesque Beechworth property. They are located on the highly sort after ‘golden mile’ amongst some of the region’s most notable wine producers. They focus on making premium, estate grown single vineyard wines. Their wines have a strong sense of place. Rather than impose his own personality on the wines, Marc has always strived to let the vineyard tell its own story.

The Beechworth hills are famous for granitic soils and fine cool climate wines. They have since planted Chardonnay in 2006 and Shiraz in 2008. Sophie's Block Chardonnay was named after their daughter Sophie who was born the year the Chardonnay was planted and similarly Henry’s Block Shiraz was planted, the year their youngest son Henry was born.