Mac Forbes Chardonnay Yarra Valley 2023

Mac Forbes’ philosophy towards winemaking is to look after the details, keep it simple, and respect the fruit. For Mac, winemaking is an extension of the vineyard where he aims to capture the fruit’s expression and carry this through to the bottle. A major component of this is understanding how farming vines in the southern hemisphere differs from farming them in Old World regions. Because most traditional practices were developed and adapted in soils where grape vines grow natively, those techniques do not always apply to the soils and climates of Australia. To inform his farming, Mac looks to the traditions of the local indigenous Wurundjeri tribe, who have farmed the Yarra Valley for tens of thousands of years. By tapping into their historical knowledge of the region and listening to each vineyard individually, his wines speak to place and highlight the premium terroir of Yarra Valley.

Located on the Australian coast, northeast of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is considered the place in Australia best suited to growing cool-climate grapes. With close proximity to the Southern Ocean, cooling winds impart freshness and natural acidity, while the long, relatively mild growing season encourages even ripening, complexity, and balance. These conditions are prime for Chardonnay, which flourishes in the volcanic soils, producing delicately aromatic wines.

The Yarra Valley Chardonnay combines fruit from vineyards across the region, offering a snapshot of the 2023 vintage. At the start of 2023, challenges abounded due to extreme rainfall and poor flowering, resulting in much lower yields than usual. Yet, what was expected to negatively affect the final wine in the bottle, in fact, became the redeeming and desired quality of depth and flavor concentration. Once harvested, the Chardonnay underwent native yeast fermentation in oak barriques on the lees, followed by 11 months of aging in large and small oak vessels.

This Chardonnay is intended for immediate enjoyment but retains the acidity to age for years. Mac’s tasting notes highlight that “the nose is an exotic mix of wet stones, quince, yellow melon, and grapefruit." With empowering aromatics and a fruit-forward palate, you can delight in the present with a glass alongside a roast chicken feast or a fettucine carbonara dinner. For those with greater patience, opening over the next 5-8 years will bring certain satisfaction.