2025 Tillie J Aligote

You don’t see much Aligoté in Australia - almost none, in fact. This fruit comes from a small vineyard in Whitfield, up in the King Valley near the base of the Alps. The clone’s a mystery, but Tillie clearly saw something in it worth chasing.

It’s been treated with care: whole bunch pressed, fermented wild and cultured in a mix of stainless, seasoned oak and a small splash of new. She’s gone full lees here too - nine months on the full stuff, with bâtonnage every month or so to build in that savoury, nutty edge.

What you get is a bright, driven wine with plenty of energy. There’s lemon rind, jasmine, and a touch of toasty oak on the nose. The palate is tightly wound - lemon curd, saline acidity, and a subtle pie crust thing happening on the finish. It’s got weight, but also snap.

Not a wine you see every day, and that’s half the fun. Beautiful drinking.

96 points
"Aromas of stone fruit, honey, lemon thyme and light grilled cashew precede the gently textured, saline, long palate. A gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next two to three years."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)