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Description
The 2022 Swinging Bridge Caldwell Lane Chardonnay is all about pushing cool-climate Australian Chardonnay to new heights. Caldwell Lane, sitting 890 metres above sea level and just a short hop from the Swinging Bridge Cellar Door in Orange, NSW, has become a stage for Tom Ward’s ambition to make one of the best Chardonnays around. With Block A’s nutrient-rich soils and Block D’s rocky, well-drained slopes, the vineyard brings together two distinct personalities, perfectly set up to deal with whatever each season delivers.
The 2022 vintage threw its fair share of challenges their way, with heavy rains throughout winter and into summer. It was all hands on deck, thinning the canopy and taming the vine's wild growth. By mid-January, the rain eased up, and the cooler-than-average temperatures helped shape a vintage full of poise and freshness. It’s a true example of how cool-climate growing can bring out something special.
Once in the winery, the fruit was handled with care. Harvested separately from the two blocks, it went straight to the press, then into barrel with a good amount of its natural solids, kicking off a wild ferment. Tom chose a mix of French oak, just enough new wood to add warmth without overpowering the fruit. The wine aged for seven months, with the barrels stirred and tasted until they reached just the right texture. Only the very best barrels made the cut for this single vineyard release.
The final wine is elegant, complex, but not overworked. On the nose, you get bright lemon, soft florals, and a touch of toasty oak, while the palate brings fresh acidity and flavours of green apple, citrus, and a hint of pastry. Tom’s clearly on a mission to put Orange on the map, and this Chardonnay is leading the charge.
Best Mature Chardonnay
Best Chardonnay
Best White Wine
Best Wine of Show.
- 2024 Orange Wine Show
96 points & Top 100 Wines of 2024
"Meyer lemon, pine lime sherbert, talc and crushed chalk. A hint of sparkler flint and raw pinenut. The wine flourishes on the palate with oyster brine salinity and zeal. A savoury pecorino cheese rind and lemon yoghurt creaminess. Savoury and seamless."
- Shanteh Wale (Halliday Wine Companion)
| Price Bracket | $41 to $50 |
| Type | White |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Orange |
| Australian State | NSW |
| Feature |
High Score Trophy Winner |
| Reviewed By |
Halliday Wine Companion |
| Critic Score |
96 |
| Alcohol | 13% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Swinging Bridge Wines
Tom Ward of Swinging Bridge Swinging Bridge
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Common Questions
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