Tasting Profile
August 2022
This single-block wine was sourced from just 0.5 ha of 24-year-old Chardonnay vines within the Faultline block. Compared to the Farrago block the soil contains less ironstone and more deep clay, leading to wines containing an earthy depth and a fuller, richer palate. The fruit was gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barriques (20% of which were new), and fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months and was racked only once, directly prior to bottling. The wine was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.
In typical Faultline fashion, the nose delivers a complex bouquet of nougat, white nectarine, lemon rind, spices and wet stones. The palate starts with a soft texture and juicy white pear flavour that quickly builds in power and length. The wine finishes long and intense, with a mouth-watering mineral-accented finish and citrus acidity. While the wine can be enjoyed now, it will benefit from time in the cellar to reach its full potential.
13.0%
Tasting Profile 2020
Tasting Profile 2023
Tasting Profile 2022
Reviews
Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2023, July 2022
Best Value Wines
Jane Faulkner
Oh yeah. This is in a good spot. Tight and linear. It kick starts with a waft of florals, white stone fruit and no shortage of citrus tones. Superb line and length as the acidity joins the lees and oak in perfect balance.
96 points
Wine Pilot, September 2022
Ken Gargett
Far too many wine lovers do not give the Mornington Peninsula it’s just recognition. Few regions in Australia can constantly produce such thrilling Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on such a regular basis. If you doubt me, look to what Kooyong offer year after year and definitely look to this wine. A stunner! Pale green/yellow in colour, this is intense, richly flavoured and elegant. Notes of cashews, stone fruit, peaches, mandarins and the merest whiff of quality honey. The oak is immaculately matched to the fruit. A supple texture with pinpoint balance, this is a complete wine. There is great length and, while utterly compelling now, it will age and improve for at least 8 years. A brilliant Chardonnay. To me, it is reminiscent of a fine Grand Cru Chablis and good luck finding one of those for $60
96 points
Real Review, August 2022
Huon Hooke
Light straw-yellow hue and a dried-floral posy character on the nose, dusty herbs and a trace of almond/nuttiness. The palate is light-medium bodied, lean and dry, crisp and high-tensile, perhaps lacking a bit in chardonnay generosity, but very attractive. There’s an array of floral and dried-fruit notes here, subtly multi-layered and full of interest.
94 points
The Guardian, June 2023
Thomas Carr
I grew up on the Mornington Peninsula so I’m often asked what my favourite wines from the region are. This is one of them. Lemon rind, nougat, stone fruit and spice make this wine a textural masterpiece with killer length and moreish acidity. And it only gets better with age.
Kooyong Estate produces two single-vineyard chardonnays, Faultline and Farrago. So if you’re feeling bougie, nab a bottle of each and try them side by side. Its a great way to see the effect terroir has on wine.
The Vintage
The Vineyard
The Kooyong vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Tuerong, on Miocene sedimentary soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.