Sailor Seeks Horse Chardonnay 2022
This tiny vineyard is one of Australia’s most southerly located in the Huon valley in southern Tasmania. So to the name, where does that come from? There was a handwritten sign on the wall at the Red Velvet Lounge in Cygnet, our local coffee and cake respite from the Tasmanian weather. It said, “Sailor Seeks Horse” and went on to explain that the author had sailed solo around the world and ridden across the US from coast to coast and back again…on a mule. He’d then decided he wanted to travel around Tasmania by horse but didn’t have one. So, was there anyone who would lend him one? If they didn’t have a horse then a pony would do. It was an idea that resonated with us. Here we were, trying to do something a little bit crazy, without much money and requiring a little bit of help to get to where we wanted to be.
Paul and Gilli Lipscombe own the vineyard and make the wines and both have considerable vineyard and winemaking experience behind them including winning the Jimmy Watson trophy for Home Hill where they have been the winemakers in recent years. From working together in the Languedoc to New Zealand, Oregon and Margaret River they spent a lot of time researching and considering the best possible vineyard site with the aim to produce Australia’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay finally settling on this ideal north facing vineyard which is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds. Best described as a warm site within a cool climate, the soil is free-draining quartz inflected mudstone soil over clay. The vineyard is planted to a large variety of Dijon clones as well as numerous other clones planted by the previous owners and all vineyard work is done as organically as possible. In 2019 a new planting including some Trousseau has been made on the steep north-west facing slope beside the main vineyard block.
2022 was a standout vintage for Chardonnay in the Huon Valley. Just the right combination of weather and yields to create wines of precision and balance. Their hallmark tends to be a slatey, briney, almost mineral-like palate weight which unites the three Chardonnays from 2022. The clone 76 is its typically aromatic self, fermented on skins to give texture and flavour but with that precise acid line to keep it fresh. The Huldufolk's whole-bunch pressing straight to oak gives it depth and palate weight while the Chardonnay is all about cool-climate elegance.
Whole bunch pressed, 'hyperox' into press tray, 12 hour settle in tank, racked to 300L hogsheads, 20% new, wild ferment, no MLF, full lees 12 months' elevage in barrel, then 3 months in tank before bottling. Not fined. Mostly 277 and 95 clones with a little 96. Citrus, stone fruit, slatey middle palate, touch of richness, spice, white pepper. - Paul Lipscombe, Wine Maker.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Tasmania
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.7%