Product Information:
Like his father before him, Nick Farr, crafts Chardonnay with a traditional Burgundian approach, slow and steady and matured with the highest quality oak. The trademark character of their Chardonnay is understated power and length with a mineral finish.
The By Farr chardonnay comes from the same site as the Sangreal pinot noir—composed of red soil over limestone—and was planted in 1994. The limestone of this site is not exposed on the surface as at other sites. The limestone starts 20 to 30cm below the surface, to the depths of the root zone of the vines. It is a very exposed north-facing slope. The clones used for the chardonnay are a mixture of Dijon clones and Penfolds 58.
The wine has a great fruit expression that is well integrated with French oak. The soil characteristics have come through in the style of wine we have today. The palate is fine but firm, with great acidity, texture and length. This wine is rich in flavour, yet very refined.
The fruit is hand-picked then whole-bunch pressed in the winery. All the solids are collected and chilled before being put to barrel, which are 30% new French oak. A natural fermentation will occur at cool temperatures over the next one to two months, and then a small amount of stirring helps start malolactic fermentation. The wine is then racked, fined and lightly filtered before bottling 11 months after picking. A very mineral site for chardonnay.
Maker:
The Real Review award By Farr, Winery of the Year 2022, a preeminent winery in the Geelong region, its vineyards and winery located at Bannockburn in the Moorabool Valley just outside Geelong city.
The Farr Family established the By Farr brand in 1994, on a north-facing slope in the township of Bannockburn, Moorabool Valley. The original wines included Chardonnay by Farr, Viognier by Farr, Shiraz by Farr, and Pinot Noir by Farr, now known as Sangreal by Farr. With the help of Cassie and Nick, the vineyards have expanded to neighbouring properties, resulting in greater expression of the single-site wines. The wines of By Farr are renowned for their complexity, layered structure and undeniable length, making them highly regarded by both consumers and critics worldwide. The Farr estate is located in the Moorabool Valley, between Geelong and Ballarat, 100km southwest of Melbourne. Gary and Robyn Farr purchased the original property in 1994, followed by a second section in 1998, which had been untouched for almost 40 years. The final piece of the puzzle, linking the two blocks of land, was purchased by Nick and Cassie Farr in 2011, totaling 130 acres. Nick and Gary Farr each have their own winemaking style, which has resulted in their respective lines - By Farr by Gary and Farr Rising by Nick - receiving critical acclaim both in Australia and overseas.
Nick Farr was Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine's Winemaker of the Year in 2020, but he is always quick to emphasise that By Farr is a family affair and the wines are a team effort. Indeed, Gary Farr won the same award back in 2001. It's the only two-generation winning combination. But the Farrs shrink from the idea that the winemaker is some kind of hero: it's the grape and the land that are important - the wines are a true testament to this.
Vineyard:
After three solid years of rain the team had hoped for some different growing conditions for the 2023 season. Unfortunately not the case! A cool and wet Spring in 2022 meant that there was severe disease pressure and constant canopy management required up until Christmas. Because of the two previous growing seasons the team was well aware of what was required and did an amazing job once again. Crop levels certainly seemed below average because of the cool and windy conditions, particularly in the chardonnay sites.
With frequent rain events throughout January and early February the ripen period was making little progress until they finally saw extended days into weeks of dryer and warmer weather. The welcome relief started to reveal signs of delicate, super fine flavours, driven by high acidities.
The first day of picking was set for the 16th March, they hedged their bets and picked a little Chardonnay from the Cooper block and a couple of tons of Pinot from the Windmill block. With acidity still quite high and looking for balance of flavours they decided to not pick again until the 20th March. The final harvest was at Bannockburn on the 6th April, and Irrewarra fruit on the 14th April. All in all Nick is are super excited about the fruit and the wines they are becoming, yet it is the smallest vintage since 2002!
Nose - Grapefruit, Citrus Blossoms, Toasted Hazelnut
Cashew, lemon and talc to sniff, a suggestion of citrus blossoms - fresh and clean and youthful
Palate - Rich, Stonefruit, Woodsmoke
Grapefruit pulp, ripe stonefruit, subtle woodsmoke and cedar, not to mention pear and nougat.
Finish - Nougat, Dry, Mineral Finish
Great acidity, texture and length. This wine is rich in flavour, yet very refined.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Geelong, Victoria
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
