2025 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay

94 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

I always chase Barney Flanders for his wines, which I think he quite likes.  This is  Merricks (35%), Balnarring (25%), Merricks North (30%) and Tuerong (10%). 500L puncheons, 10% new. This is juicy and flavoursome. Nectarine, pink grapefruit, a lightly salty and spicy preserved lemon thing. It has a pulpy citrus flavour mixed with stone fruit, a little creamy and nutty, some flinty bits, with a seaside saline and citrus finish of excellent length. It’s such a tasty Chardonnay. Everything is in the right place.