Planted 1999, Dash Farms sits perched at over 450m asl on the Southern granitic
slopes of Mt Alexander (Leanganook) looking back towards Mt Macedon and the
Macedon Ranges. Like Ray-Monde, it sits just outside the Macedon Ranges GI.
Ripening for Chardonnay occurs around a week earlier than my family’s vineyard
Cobaw Ridge. These lean granite soils and high altitude confer both concentration
and freshness at low sugar levels.

Once hand harvested with careful sorting in the vineyard, the bunches were partially
crushed by foot and very gently pressed. Overnight settling then occurs before
transfer to a combination of new Stockinger 300l oak and Burgundian piece for
fermentation and lees ageing for 12 months. This is then followed by four months
in stainless steel on fine lees, before racking and bottling, unfined and unfiltered.

Pale with a green edge, Dash Farm’s offers restrained aromas of crushed rock,
lemon and grapefruit rind, just ripe nectarine and spice. Flavours carry through to
a dense and powerful palate with powdery phenolics, flinty, savoury complexity
and a fine acid line, finishing creamy and long. The best vintage of this cuvee yet.

- Joshua Cooper