2021 - Alpha Estate - Ecosystem - Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay Ecosystem Tramonto was aged for seven months in new French barriques and comes in at 13.6% alcohol. A perfectly balanced and fresh Chardonnay, this integrates the wood well and never seems to have a hair out of place. It has fine depth in terms of mouthfeel, coating the palate nicely and lingering well. It develops nicely too as it airs out and warms. The fruit seems ripe and rather tasty, but this is a style that is built around freshness and elegance, not fat fruit. Overall, this doesn't seem to be lacking much right now. It drinks great today, but it is on track to age well too. How well is the open question that will finally determine its status, but this is not likely at peak. I won't be surprised if it improves over the next few years. It seems as good as any the winery has yet produced. Alpha Estate has gotten Chardonnay right.