2023 Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay
2023 Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay

2023 Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay

96 pts
Brokenwood |Beechworth |Chardonnay
A bright, modern Beechworth Chardonnay from Brokenwood’s Indigo Vineyard, fresh and zippy now with the structure to age nicely.
Price:
$75.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 4 units left
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Description

WINERY OF THE YEAR! - 2026 Halliday Wine Companion

Beechworth is one of those regions that just nails Chardonnay, and Brokenwood’s Indigo Vineyard is right in the thick of it. Planted back in ’99 at the base of the Victorian Alps, it’s a site with a mix of soils and clones that gives plenty of character to work with.

2023 was a slightly tricky season, cooler and wetter than average, but the later harvest meant the fruit came in with great flavour and natural acidity. The winemaking is pretty classic modern Aussie Chardonnay – whole-bunch pressed, wild ferment, and time in French oak (about a third new) to build a bit of texture without overpowering the fruit.

The result is bright and citrusy with just enough stone fruit depth and a clean acid line keeping it all together. It’s delicious to drink now while it’s fresh and zippy, but will only get better over the next few years. A really smart cool-climate Chardonnay that shows why Beechworth is so highly regarded.

96 points
"The wine is defined by an acid line, which gives focus, freshness and length."
- Toni Paterson (Halliday Wine Companion)

Huon Hooke

Huon Hooke

The Real Review 96 Points

Very light, bright colour; a smoky reductive note is the first sniff, lemon/grapefruit as well, the palate very fine and tensioned, taut and linear with terrific line and length. Already superb and has stacks of future potential.

Erin Larkin

Erin Larkin

The Wine Advocate 93 Points

The 2023 Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay is rocky and a little reductive, with salted nuts, white orchard fruit and lashings of caper brine. Shaved fennel, green apple skins and flinty complexity complete the picture, with saffron and curry leaf as well. The Indigo vineyard was planted in 1999 and is in Beechworth, at the feet of the Victorian Alps. 2023 was mild and late. 12.34% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Nicole Bilson

Nicole Bilson

Wine Pilot 95 Points

From the revered Indigo vineyard of Beechworth comes this beautifully balanced cool climate Chardonnay. There’s fabulous complexity, especially for such a young wine, with aromas of grapefruit zest, white nectarine, green mango and the earthy/citrus funk of cardamon pods. French oak adds a silky vanilla custard note dusted with nutmeg.  This wine effortlessly combines restrained elegance with compelling concentration and a finish that goes on and on (and on). Glorious now and will reward cellaring. 

Ryan Montgomery

Ryan Montgomery

James Suckling 95 Points

Such complexity and focus, with phenolic tension and texture that draw a fine line through the middle of the palate and deliver subtle flavors of lemons and cooked apples, with hints of flint and toasted oak at the end. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Ken Gargett

Ken Gargett

Wine Pilot 95 Points

It is a very long time since this region had just one superstar performer and a number of wannabees. Now Beechworth has long proved itself as one of the world’s most thrilling sources of great Chardonnay. This latest addition will simply add yet more shine to the lustre. Whole bunch pressing, wild ferment in French oak, all of it new. The oak format is a mix of 500 litre puncheons and 228 litre barriques with nine months maturation. A stunning pale lemon hue, the nose offers hints of nutmeg and spices from the influence of the oak. Sublimely handled, it is evident but intriguing, rather than intrusive. Spices, figs, white peaches, cashews and stone fruits and layered and dense but with energy. Very good length, over which the intensity is maintained for the full journey. A really good Chardonnay. Drink for six to eight years.

Toni Paterson

Toni Paterson

Halliday Wine Companion 96 Points

Planted in '99, the Indigo Vineyard, in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, has a reputation for fine chardonnay. This is a lovely example, lemon-scented and intense with refined pomelo and white peach flavours. The wine is defined by an acid line, which gives focus, freshness and length. Winemaking artefact has been seamlessly integrated to give the wine an extra dimension rather than a counter melody. Whole-bunch-pressed grapes with natural fermentation in French oak (100% new).

Tasting Note
Perfect green-tinted colour is a sure sign of careful fruit and oak management. The aroma shows green pineapple and grapefruit, coupled with toasted cashew notes from French oak. Grapefruit pith and white nectarine carry through to a long finish. A fine-textured palate with bright lime and citrus acidity. A modern Australian Chardonnay at its best.

Vinification
Whole bunch pressing with wild fermentation in French oak, mostly 500L puncheons. Around 30% was fermented in new oak, with the balance in older barrels from a variety of cooperages.

Winemaker Comments
Beechworth is a very important region for us, and the vineyard is back in prime condition following the disastrous bushfires of 2020 when we didn’t pick a berry. It is truly one of Australia’s finest regions for Chardonnay. The Indigo property provides diversity through soils, aspect, clones, and vine age, with the majority of this wine being the Mendoza clone.

Vintage 2023 was milder and later than average. Above-average rainfall created a challenging growing season with constant disease pressure. January was particularly wet (108mm), though February was much drier (19mm), allowing the vineyard to recover. These conditions delivered excellent natural acidity. Careful handpicking ensured the grapes arrived at the winery in outstanding condition.

Food Pairing
Seafood and light meats.

Drink
Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Beechworth
Australian State VIC
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Wine Pilot
The Wine Advocate
James Suckling
Critic Score 96
95
93
Alcohol 12.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Brokenwood

Brokenwood is one of the Hunter Valley’s great stories. What started back in 1970 as a weekend hobby for a couple of Sydney lawyers has grown into one of Australia’s most respected wineries, without ever losing that original sense of fun and adventure. From the beginning they set the standard for Hunter Semillon, a style they still lead the charge on today.

These days Chief Winemaker Stuart Hordern carries the torch, crafting brilliant Hunter classics and also drawing on fruit from some of the country’s best regions. Think plush McLaren Vale Shiraz, elegant Victorian Chardonnay, and powerful Beechworth Cabernet, all made with the same Brokenwood touch.

The Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz has long been one of Australia’s most collectable reds, but the wines across the range share a common thread: purity, balance and a real sense of place. At the same time, the team here has always kept things down-to-earth. They’re serious about sustainability and quality, but never take themselves too seriously.

Brokenwood has grown up, but it still carries the spark of those early days. If you want a producer that combines Hunter Valley history with a modern, generous spirit, you’ve found it.

The Winemaking team at Brokenwood Brokenwood

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