Southern Light Vineyards Ghostgum Chardonnay 2023: Review

Written By Campbell Mattinson

Southern Light Vineyards Ghostgum Chardonnay 2023
$90, 13.5% alcohol, DIAM cork, Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula.

Last year I travelled to Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula to visit winemaker Anthony Fikkers at Southern Light Vineyards, maker of this Ghostgum Chardonnay. The result is worth a read. The 2022 releases – the reason for that visit – were very good. But this 2023 Chardonnay release is better again.

Is it what. The delicacy, the length, the inherent power, the character. From the first sip we’re away and we’re flying. Pears, grapefruit, lemon, cedar and rushes of nutty, flinty, tonic-like nuances. There’s nothing in-your-face about this wine, it’s an example of elegance plus plus, and yet a few sips in and it’s all you can think about. Besides, the finish of this wine – and the long curl of it – is the real deal. The vines this wine was grown on were planted in 1990, and every speck of this wine feels mature, considered and at peace with the world. Go you good thing. This wine is beautiful. 95 points.

Feature article on Southern Light Vineyards.

Campbell Mattinson

Campbell Mattinson has been an independent journalist, wine critic and photographer for forty years. He founded The Winefront, is a former chief editor of the Halliday Wine Companion (and former editor of Halliday magazine), and is the only Australian to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year Award more than once. He is 100% independent, and tastes between 5,000 and 10,000 wines each year, blind and in comparative brackets as often as is practicable.

More about Campbell Mattinson

Mattinson is also the founder of the Mattinson Photography business.

https://www.campbellmattinson.com
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