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Dr. Edge

2021

Chardonnay

Tasmania - Australia
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

The 2021 ‘Tasmania’ Chardonnay from Dr. Edge (aka Peter Dredge) is sourced from two growers, one in the Derwent Valley in the south of the island, and the other in the Tamar Valley in the north. Both blocks were planted in 1987 and a farmed organically, though without certification. Like with all of the Dr. Edge wines, Peter likes to focus on blends of sites to really encapsulate the entirety of the vintage across Tasmania. Plus, this way, he gets to play with the percentages of each block to bring out the elements he desires, which are consistently drive, energy, and texture. The idea behind this Chardonnay was to make something that is by no means an orange wine, but one that sees a little bit of whole clusters during fermentation and aging in order to bring structure and length. Peter does this because he doesn’t want to rely too heavily on tannin and structure from oak; he prefers to let the grapes and stems themselves do that work.

The grapes were hand picked then whole-bunch pressed straight to old French oak barriques. Every four barrels, about 10% whole clusters were left un-pressed to soak with the juice. Those clusters stayed there through spontaneous fermentation and the nine months of aging on the lees. It was bottled unfined and with a gentle cross-flow filtration, and just a 40 ppm sulfur addition.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
  • Vineyard: Meadowbank (Derwent Valley) and a single site in the Tamar Valley
  • Vine Age: 35-years-old
  • Soil Type: Loose sand & sandstone overlying dark brown coffee rock (sand cemented by iron oxides and organic matter)
  • Viticulture: Sustainable - practicing organic
  • Fermentation: Native — old French oak barriques (whole-bunch pressed)
  • Skin Contact: Fermented and aged with one in every 4 barriques containing 10% whole clusters
  • Aging: 9 months on lees in old French oak barriques
  • Alcohol: 12.5%
  • Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
  • pH: 3.2
  • Total Acidity: 7.8 g/L
  • Total SO2: 40 ppm
  • Total Production: 150 cases
  • UPC: None

Tasting Notes

This textured wine has lemon-like acidity and powerful energy. It shows a savory minerality that swirls together on the palate with flavors of  white peach, honey, almonds, and green apple. A North-South polarity given by site selection is apparent with the dichotomy of sharp acid and a honeyed roundness.

Press & Reviews

The Wine Front

96

"Tamar Valley & Derwent Valley grapes. Older oak. No North, South, or East in 2021. So I guess this is North & South. This is kind of how Chablis should be, given a whole lot of it these days is too ripe and gluggy. Saline, white peach, honeyed almond and green apple, a little unmami something, maybe some preserved lemon. Tight, brisk, but has flavour, a lot of flint through a glossy texture, wheatgerm and brine, sour apple tang, intense and long. Lip-smacking and energetic, yet already complex. Wonderful wine."

- Gary Walsh

Wine Enthusiast

94

"This is the small batch label of Peter Dredge, who sources the fruit from both the north and the south of Tasmania, Australia's coolest climate wine growing region. It manages to feel both stripped back and polished, opening with fresh citrus, melon and pineapple rind aromas that weave seamlessly with marzipan, lightly grilled nuts and toasty, salt-flecked, sea spray notes. There's a roundness to the textural palate, but it's drawn into center by a whip crack of acidity. A smokey, nutty vibe carries through to the long finish. Drink now-2030."

- Christina Pickard

Producer


Dr. Edge

Region


Tasmania

Country


Australia

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