2024 Toolangi F Block Chardonnay

Kaspar Hermann is letting the terroir do the talking at Toolangi, striving to make one of the country's best Chardonnays here. And he's well on his way.

This release comes from F Block, a single sheltered hectare perched right against the Toolangi State Forest. A tough 2024 flowering season meant yields from these 21-year-old Gingin clone vines were brutally low, leaving Hermann with just five barrels instead of his usual seven or eight.

The hand-picked fruit was whole-bunch pressed and wild fermented in French oak barriques. It saw just 20% new wood, with about a third of the batch running through malolactic conversion before being bottled.

It drives hard with a bit of flint and funk, sharp citrus oil, a briny, chalky grip, and awesome structural drive. It's "big" for a Yarra Chardonnay, but we loved that about it. Lovely, classy packaging too, with the fancy wax seal. This is the jewel in Kassper's crown. Killer Chardonnay and in the mix as one of the Yarra's best.

98 points
"A stunning chardonnay... This all comes together on the powerful, saline, textured and taut palate. The flavours persists long after you've tasted this, while the acidity is perfectly integrated into the wine, ensuring this will age superbly."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points
"There’s powdery texture, and it finishes long and saline. Very good wine. A lot of texture and flavour here."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)