Established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyard is in the Dixons Creek subregion of the Yarra Valley, adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This low-cropping vineyard is planted to the Gingin, Mendoza and I10V3 clones and sits on fine clay loam. Year after year, it produces wines with a distinctive personality and strong sense of place. The Paul’s Lane Chardonnay is the product of just 20 rows of the original 1995 plantings on the property: I1OV3 and Gingin clones in D block.
The fruit was handpicked on 27th February and pressed as whole bunches to barriques and puncheons (20% new) for fermentation. There was no malolactic conversion, and the wine matured without lees for 10 months. 2021 was a long, classic season, allowing for brilliant flavour definition. It’s a fairly dense yet racy Chardonnay with layers of ripe pear, yellow jube and nectarine fruit, nutty complexity and a clean, powdery close.