Bindi Kostas Rind Chardonnay 2023 [JH 95]

James Halliday Wine Companion 95 points

Shy at first, so decant this or get lots of air into the glass – swirl, swirl, swirl. Then out pops stone fruit, quince, too, with citrus juice, zest and pith, barrel ferment notes of creamy lees and some mouth-watering sulphides. Quite luscious and textural with creamed honey and lemon curd lees plus a savouriness throughout. Lots to like, with fine acidity rendering the finish long. 95 points.

Jane Faulkner

Published 13 January 2025.

WINERY NOTES:

An intense, mineral wine fully ripe but lean, taught and intense with savoury, creamy elements. Fragrant notes of orange blossom, nectarine stone, spice and subtle nuttiness are usual with a vibrant, tight, long palate highlighted by clean acidity, wonderful texture and fine length.

The Kostas Rind Chardonnay is grown in a 1.5 hectare plot. The wine is fermented in French barrels of which typically 20% are new. Fermentation occurs without the addition of cultured yeast and the wine remains in barrel on yeast lees over winter with only a small amount of malo-lactic conversion taking place. It is racked around eight months after vintage, and returned to barrel for a further three months before bottling.

Production varies from 300-600 dozen per vintage.