Picked up this at auction here in Aus recently, the first ever release of new wave Beechworth superstars Tessa Brown and Jeremy Schmolzer. In 2014 they were a fledgling operation only just releasing wines from their own vineyard planted in 2012 and from the Brunnen. Vineyard across the road. Now one of a handful of producers taking over the Beechworth mantle. The Brunnen vineyard is about as cool climate you can get for Aus, a postage stamp of a vineyard vineyard at high altitude on granite and mudstone, treated super gently and with no new oak.
Now over a decade old this is about as pristine as aged Chardonnay gets, green gold and so vibrant, curry leaf and makrut lime, some mealy/spicy oak and a little touch of phenolic grip. There's pithy grapefruit and a splash of wild fennel. Feels pretty expansive on the palate, only just turning into tertiary spaces but without losing any of the stony/rocky reflections this had on release. Always so good when old bottles sing and a cool vision of where the current wines might head!
by CurrA_291_nga