Attention all Burgundy collectors, we have an especially rare and exotic bird to offer you today from the far away corners of Beechworth in Victoria, Australia. I can promise that the offer today is more exclusive and rare than any bottling of Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne 1er Cru that you may have had access to and achieves a comparably dazzling level of quality. In fact, in the 2021 vintage, this is the only Chardonnay IN THE WORLD to have received 100 points from Wine Advocate (and it's nowhere near as expensive as that 97 Point Coche-Dury). Giaconda Chardonnay is not just Australia's most celebrated white wine, it is one of the world's greatest chardonnays, full stop. We say that having worked with, and fawned over, many of the world's great chardonnays during our careers as sommeliers.
Amazingly, after many years without this wine in the Texas market, Giaconda has finally returned. As the average Burgundy collector's favorite style has begun to revolve around reduction and precision, Giaconda's Estate Chardonnay, arguably Australia's greatest white wine, has coincidentally fallen into step with the coolest wines in Burgundy.
"Unlike any other [Chardonnay] in the country, it uniquely harnesses both power and finesse in equal parts - it's a true benchmark for the heights that can be achieved with the variety in Australia." - Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross, Authors of How to Drink Australian
It all started in the 1970s when Rick Kinzbrunner, having initially embarked on a career as a mechanical engineer, developed a keen interest in the field of winemaking. This newfound enthusiasm led him to engage with several notable wineries in Australia and New Zealand, enriching his understanding and skills in viticulture. Motivated by his growing passion, Rick pursued further education at the University of California - Davis, a leading institution known for its comprehensive wine studies program. After completing his studies, he gained valuable experience working with prominent wineries in Northern California, including Simi, Stag’s Leap, and Matanzas Creek. Subsequently, Rick's professional journey took him to Bordeaux, France, where he had the opportunity to work with the Moueix family. The Moueixs are renowned for owning several esteemed properties on the right bank of Bordeaux, including Petrus and Château Trotanoy. This period in Bordeaux represented a significant phase in Rick's career, allowing him to contribute to the production of some of the region's most respected wines.
In 1981, Rick settled into Beechworth, a four hour drive north of Melbourne and became one of the region's first modern wineries. He very quickly eschewed any chemical inputs, converting to organics and focusing on regenerative agriculture from the beginning and became certified organic in 2019. Though Giaconda makes excellent Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Roussanne, the winery soon became known for its show-stopping Chardonnay.
Winemaking is Burgundian, and occurs deep in a granite cave that Rick excavated in 2009 with nearly 3 tons of explosives and several months of back-breaking work. It's a rare Chardonnay both grown in granite soils and matured in the deep underground caves dug into those same granite soils. “The grapes are harvested ripe, but not too ripe,” said Rick. “We use a basket press. The juice and wines are gravity-fed, and the wine is fermented in barrel using only native yeasts. The malo-lactic occurs naturally. The Chardonnay gets nearly two years in barrel (around 30% new oak) and is bottled without filtration. As you know, the grapes are grown on granite soil and brought up in a granite cellar.”
This is an AOC Selections exclusive offer, as we received the only allocation of this wine to come to the entire US, and we take great joy in being able to share this wine with as many wine lovers as possible. Thank you in advance for respecting the 3-bottle maximum we have requested here. If you would like to have your wine shipped, please reach out to the team at info@aocselections.com.
100 Points from Erin Larkin of Wine Advocate: "The 2021 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay follows on directly from the 2019, as no 2020 vintage was made due to bushfires. The winemaking remains consistent with previous vintages: hand-picked, lightly crushed, then basket pressed, fermented wild in oak in the gravity-flow cellar, matured for 18+ months in French oak (30% new), with 100% malolactic fermentation. The 2021 is backward and flinty at this stage, with a staggering flow of flavor across the palate. It has penetrating characters of saffron, yellow peach, preserved citrus, red apple skins, brine, crushed shells and Indian root spice. I acknowledge that I have a blind spot for high-quality oak. It is present here, but it is seamlessly integrated into and matched by the potency of the fruit presence. This is an unbelievable wine that will only grow in stature over the coming years. As for comparison to previous vintages? The best until now was the 2018, but the 2021 is tighter, more focused and even, if you can believe it, longer. My heart (and money) is here, by a whisker. What a phenomenal wine."
100 Points Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal: "This is a brilliant Giaconda Chardonnay with superb density, fruit complexity, flow and mineral length. Australian Grand Cru. Absolute genius. 100 points."
98+ Points Angus Hughson, Vinous: "The 2021 Chardonnay shows fantastic power, definition, and length. Pithy aromas of musky peach, nougat, flint, gunpowder and granitic minerality frame this wine, leaning heavily on earth tones. Chewy in texture, this is like a mini-2017-incredibly long and tight, with the depths of its charms yet to be unveiled. A backbone of chalky acidity maintains tension and holds shape through the exceptionally long finish."
