Region: Denmark | Variety: 100% Chardonnay

The Il Liris 2022 is our flagship Chardonnay, made to be a true reflection of its Denmark provenance and the terroir from which it comes.

Halliday Wine Companion

Top Wines

Mellow chardonnay of generosity and freshness. Opens with aromas of cinnamon/clove, apple strudel, lemon curd and sea spray. The palate is similarly reflective of these characters, quite potent in concentration with fine, powdery texture drawing the wine long and to a satisfying pucker, with a trail of lime and brine acidity following on. A charming, lively chardonnay of depth and interest.

Rating: 94

WA Wine Review

Ray Jordan

Seems to mark a style shift for what has been a very good wine from the start. This is a more precise and delicately structured chardonnay but still with an intensity and drive. It’s a combination of Gingin and Burgundian clones. Dominant white peach and slightly mealy character on the nose. Subtle toasty influences on a fine and lingering minerally palate with just a hint of crème brulée

Rating: 97

Hand-picked as each clone was in the optimum flavour and maturity window, and individually pressed to barrel for wild fermentation for the first 30% of ferment and then inoculated to allow the ferments to finish, spontaneous MLF (finishing at 37% complete overall) in the 2nd fill oak and allowed to oxidatively mature post malolactic fermentation. The wine spent nine months in French oak barriques with 50% being new oak. The wine was then left on lees with periodic stirring in stainless for a further 7 months prior to bottling in late July 2023.

The 2022 vintage started after a very long cold and wet winter with full soil profiles. The unusually cold temperatures in September delayed bud burst and the subsequent milder temperatures all the way through the season, saw a late flowering, later veraison and later than normal harvesting. However, with cool temperatures comes long maturation time on the vine yielding exceptional fruit intensity and purity of varietal expression.

Ageing Potential

Up to 20 years.

$80

Castelli Estate Il Lirus Denmark Chardonnay 2022 x 6

Josef Chromy Zdar Pinot Noir 2022 x 6