2025 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Grenache Blanc

Barney Flanders has a reputation for turning out some of the most compelling cool-climate gear on the Mornington Peninsula, but this little project shows he is just as clever when he steps outside his usual turf. The name literally means 'the apprentice', a nod to the fact that he is always experimenting and pushing his boundaries with varieties that aren't exactly common down his way.

This comes from a 'alt variety' hub of Heathcote, with a solid dose of skin contact and plenty of time on lees in neutral old wood, skipping any heavy fining or filtering to make sure the wine didn't lose its raw personality.

It completely rejects that clean, boring, stainless-steel white wine template. It pours a pale gold colour with a bit of real texture in the mouth, showing a waxy, pulpy core of baked pear, a bite of bitter almond skin, and a salty, rustic finish.

A fantastic, unforced food wine that values texture over simple fruit sweetness.