The Old Fire Station, Old Market, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire

The Next Big Thing, Chardonnay, Smalltown Vineyards

The Next Big Thing – The label reflects word-of-mouth with a bunch of hipster types sharing the news of the next big thing, a real vineyard find, proper stuff with bags of varietal appeal but lovely texture too. Aussie chardonnay has made a comeback… and this is a cracking wine to start the revolution!

Grapes are hand harvested from an old block on the Binder family Barossa vineyards. Small batches of Chardonnay are picked and pressed through a tank press with some skin contact. 25% is fermented in French puncheons and American hogsheads for 6 months, aged on lees then blended with the 75% unoaked juice, settled and bottled. Into the main Barossa blend a small component of Eden Valley Chardonnay is blended and the whole sees a tiny bit of secondary use oak for some fine structure.

With the faintest whiff of biscuity oak this bright, tangy Barossa Chardonnay is an absolute delight. It has that classical Barossa charm, elegance, poise, tang and naggingly more-ish elusive something-or-other which makes one wonder why there isn’t more Australian Chardonnay.

CONTACT TO ORDER

We can deliver anywhere in mainland Britain from £11.95 per case.