A.Rodda Smiths Vineyard Beechworth Chardonnay 2015

When Adrian Rodda moved to Beechworth in 2010, the primary focus was to make one Chardonnay from the oldest vines in the region, the Smiths Vineyard. The Smiths Vineyard was planted in 1978 at an elevation of 550 metres above sea level at the cross-over between the two soil types that define the Beechworth region; the shaley red Ordovician soil and the granitic soil. 

"The intensity is good and it's refined and tightly focused. Very smart chardonnay, retaining its youthfulness."  Huon Hooke

The 2015 Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay was hand picked and pressed to 500 litre French oak puncheons (36% first use) without clarification or racking for non-temperature controlled fermentation. Malolactic fermentation was not encouraged so as to preserve freshness and natural acidity. The wine was rested on lees for 10 months prior to bottling.

Expert reviews

"Australian chardonnay of the highest level here. Crafted by the 2015 'Young Gun of Wine' winner Adrian Rodda and sourced from the celebrated Smith's Vineyard (planted in 1978), this mesmerising chardonnay is tightly wound, multi-dimensional and powerful; with a wonderful minerally spine running through a palate of prodigious length. Absolutely delicious."  Nick Munday, Canterbury Wines - 96 points

"Straw and oatmeal aromas, pleasant, the palate lean and quite light bodied, with a slight hazelnut overtone, the intensity is good and it's refined and tightly focused. Very smart chardonnay, retaining its youthfulness. Drink: 2022–2027."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 96 points

"Stylish bouquet, clean, nutty and pristine. Crisp and lively. Harmony on palate. Drink: 2022–2027."  Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review - 96 points

About the winery

Adrian Rodda has been involved in making wine since 1998, spending more than a decade at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley. At Oakridge he worked with David Bicknell and was involved in the development of the superb Oakridge 864 Chardonnay, his final contribution to 864 coming in 2009. At the start of 2010 Adrian moved to Beechworth in the North East of Victoria.  Adrian was a long-term friend with Mark Walpole, viticulturist and winemaker at Fighting Gully Road. Serendipitously the lease for the Smith vineyard, planted in 1978 and the oldest vineyard in the region, became available. Adrian and Mark decided to share the lease.

Although Adrian's primary focus was to make Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, his intention was always to make multiple single vineyard Chardonnays from different geographical regions. In 2012, Adrian commenced the "Chardonnay Project” whereby he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and vinifies them in parallel with the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017 a third single vineyard Chardonnay was added, produced from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands, planted in 1985 at 600m above sea level.

Since 2011, the range has also included a Bordeaux Blend, based around Cabernet Sauvignon also sourced from the Smiths Vineyard, and a Tempranillo from the Aquila Audax Vineyard, Adrian's first foray with a Mediterranean variety.