2010 Allegra Chardonnay

96 + 95 Points - Halliday

Fruit for the Allegra Chardonnay was sourced entirely from the historic Rebenberg Vineyard on Mount Duneed, an area first planted with vines in 1858. The premium fruit comes from over 35 year old vines yielding less than one tonne/acre, and was hand-picked at 13.2 Bé and pH 3.25. Fruit was whole bunch pressed and run into 100% new French oak puncheons (450-500L) without prior clarification. Fermentation occurred with indigenous yeast. Following the end of fermentation, malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel with natural yeasts. Wines were left in barrel on gross lees for a further 15 months prior to marriage and bottling. Extended bottle maturation of this wine will allow the tight complex character of this wine to develop.

This wine is intense, revealing layer after layer of nuance. Citrus blossom, hazelnut, anise, apricot, gun flint and mineral flavours mingle with the firm structure and creamy texture. The wine is rock solid at the core, flawlessly focused and extremely long, with great acids and grip on a very minerally finish.

"A re-release of the 2010 Allegra chardonnay, which is part of a program to celebrate 30 years of Lethbridge in 2026. I can only guess this was pretty austere as a young wine, but at 13 years of age, it's remarkably youthful. And very, very good. Stony with gentle stone fruits and a little fresh ginger. Just as fresh on the palate, which has impressive intensity, energy and length." Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, August 2024

“Gleaming green-gold; made from the best chardonnay on the estate, and shows it; this is seriously good, at once supple, smooth and balanced, but also powerful and focused; varietal fruit set within a framework of vital acidity.” 96 points, James Halliday