Snake + Herring Tough Love Chardonnay 2023

These guys make several Chardonnays, and this is a nice entry-level for them. It's all Chardonnay and it's all from Margaret River, but in addition to the famous Gingin clone, four additional Dijon clones have been used, and this seems to contribute to its slightly finer, chalky minerality to complement the richness and raw power of the Gingin clone. It gets some pretty serious winemaking treatment after hand and machine picking, with whole bunch pressing and then solids, wild ferments, and a little barrel fermentation before being left on lees for eight months in a combination of oak and tank. You get the typical melony, nectarine characters with a slightly spicy cashew and brioche. The finish is clean, crisp, and vibrant with a zippy acidity sustaining the length.