Ghost Rock Single Vineyard Chardonnay Oulton 2024

Variety: 100 % Chardonnay
Country, Region:Australia, Tasmania

The Oulton Vineyard is the lowest and most protected at Ghost Rock a place where ripeness is achieved via some of the most idyllic growing conditions. Fruit for this wine was selectedfrom the 95 clone. Vines were hand leaf plucked prior to veraison to maximize airflow. Winter pruned to 3 arm arched.

This wine was gently pressed to tank and allowed a light settling before being racked to barrel at high turbidity. It was barrel fermented in 30% new French oak. Following primary fermentation, barrels were kept warm to encourage a partial malolactic fermentation, which was then halted at 2.25 g/L or about 50% completed. The wine was then left to age in barrel, with occasional lees stirring.
12.6 % Alc/Vol; 8.1 g/L TA; 2.25 g/L Malic Acid; 3.14 pH.

Pale gold. An enticing and richly layered bouquet, where aromas of warm vanilla and pineapple upside-down cake unfold alongside nougat, fresh cream, and toasted almond. The interplay between fruit, oak, and confectionary elements creates a nose thats both opulent and inviting, with a hint of subtle spice drawing you in further. The palate is generous and enveloping,delivering a full-bodied expression withoutsacrificing finesse. Oak spice weaves througha core of ripe stone fruit and creamy textures,balanced by a bright, crystalline acid line thatspeaks to its cool-climate origins. Despite itsluxurious mouthfeel, the wine remainsfocused and vibrant, finishing long andresonant with a perfectly judged tensionbetween richness and precision. Abenchmark expression for lovers ofstructured, expressive Chardonnay.
Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

‘2024 will be remembered as a vintage of distinction, with fabulous growing conditions that yielded fruit of superb quality. The climate during the spring and summer was notably warmer and dryer than previous years. This pattern we had not seen since 2019, which was also a year that made exceptional wines that are still holing up today. The wines from 2024 will be celebrated for having considerable character, intensity, and a great deal of potential.’ Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

‘In 01, Cate and Colin Arnold purchased the former Patrick Creek Vineyard planted exclusively to pinot noir in 1989. The vineyards, situated among the patchwork fields of Sassafras to the south and the white sands of the Port Sorell Peninsula to the north, now total 30ha: pinot noir (14 clones) remains the bedrock of the plantings, with other varieties including chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc. Ownership has passed to son Justin and his wife Alicia (who runs the cooking school and cellar door). Justins experience in the Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills), Margaret River (Devils Lair) and Napa Valley (Etude) has paid dividends the business is going from strength to strength, and the capacity of the 100t winery has been tripled. Exports to Japan.’ James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion.

Established in 1999, Ghost Rock came to life when Colin and Cate Arnold purchased the Patrick’s Creek vineyard (planted in 1989) at Northdown, just outside Devonport in Northern Tasmania. Here, just a few minutes from where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry docks and but an hour’s drive from Cradle Mountain, the vineyards enjoy a maritime climate overlooking Bass Strait, producing immaculately ripened fruit of particular freshness and complexity.

Over the ensuing 20-odd years the Arnold family would continue planting out additional vineyards, substantially with Pinot Noir (and a good dozen different clones at that!), but also with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a little Sauvignon Blanc. And before they knew it, they had almost single-handedly created the wine region now dubbed Tasmania’s Cradle Coast.

In 2017 Colin and Cate’s son Justin and his wife Alicia Peardon took over the business and have continued to turn out new and exciting wines, earning 5-star recognition from the Halliday Wine Companion, amongst many other accolades. Justin takes care of the winemaking, having honed his skills at Coldstream Hills, Devil’s Lair and at Etude in California’s Carneros Creek, whilst Alicia manages the Cellar Door and Eatery.

Today the wines fall into three ranges: the Estate and Single Vineyard wines are self-explanatory, whilst the Supernatural wines make up Ghost Rock’s ‘Lo-Fi’ range. Or as Justin has put it,

‘Creativity and deliciousness rule the roost within this portfolio, bound to one rule only; high quality, estate-grown fruit as the source component. The rest is in the imagination and the craft. The range follows a LoFi mantra of being wild ferment driven and exclusively unfined/unfiltered/low SO2.’