Blind Corner Quindalup Chardonnay Aligoté 2023 (6 Bottles) Margaret River

by Fine Wine Cellars

$206.00

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

The fruit comes from a single block of Gingin clone Chardonnay (92%) and a small adjacent plot of Aligoté (8%). Blind Corner’s 150 or so 10-year-old Aligoté vines are believed to be Margaret River’s only plot of this variety, and Gould is slowly grafting over more Chardonnay to bulk out the plantings.

The Chardonnay block is very low-yielding, and the vines are over 20 years old. The fruit was pressed to a combination of stainless steel (75%) and concrete egg (25%) for fermentation. Malolactic conversion occurred in the same vessels, and the wine was left to rest for 12 months on lees before bottling.

It only received a rough filtering to “keep the wine as close to the vineyard as possible,” as Gould puts it. From a killer vintage, it’s bustlingly bright and pulpy with racy texture and delicious, sappy length. A whole lot of wine for the price.

Like your favourite comedian, this wine has a wonderfully dry delivery and flavourful punchline that will send your tastebuds into the giggles. It’s Chardonnay base offers a full-body mouthfeel, with the Aligoté adding citrus notes for a subtle tang.

“Aligoté is a lesser-known white grape from Burgundy, a region where chardonnay is king. Traditionally the two grapes were inter-planted in the vineyards there, the higher acidity of the aligoté balancing the richness of the chardonnay. Ben Gould of Margaret River winery Blind Corner is one of very few people to grow aligoté in Australia, and he uses it to similar effect in this wine, adding crisp, almost herbal tartness to the ripe, sun-kissed golden textural qualities of wild-fermented chardonnay.”

It is made from a single block of wild-fermented Chardonnay, which is slowly being overtaken by Aligoté grafts, all wild fermented in barrel and rough filtered to bottle, keeping the wine as close to the vineyard as possible. Easily the best (ahem, only) Chardonnay Aligoté from Margaret River in the last 100 years.

SKU: 640bd5bfa3c0-1 Category:

Description

About Blind Corner

Nestled amidst the coastal flats of Quindalup in Margaret River, Blind Corner is a serene haven bordered by the Indian Ocean, with sandy soils layered with pea gravel, coffee rock, and ironstone. Embracing rigorous organic practices since 2016, Ben and Naomi cultivate their vineyard with care, employing cover crops to enrich the soil and utilizing a finger weeder for meticulous vineyard maintenance. Their dedication extends to the cellar, where they handle everything in-house, from winemaking to bottling, powered by solar energy and homemade biodiesel.

Ben, a passionate vigneron, employs a variety of vessels, including concrete eggs and old barrels, eschewing manipulation and embracing minimal intervention winemaking. Rejecting conventional practices, Blind Corner eschews mobile concentrators, opting instead for natural methods like using Aligoté to maintain freshness in their Chardonnay.

The name Blind Corner reflects the Goulds’ unconventional approach to winemaking, emphasizing organic certification and accessible pricing. Their eclectic range exudes energy and a bohemian spirit, offering wines that are approachable, delicious, and true to their down-to-earth ethos.

The journey to Blind Corner began with Ben and Naomi’s desire for a vineyard where their children could roam freely. Inspired by a European vineyard tour, they blend old-world techniques with modern knowledge, continuously refining their craft. Their expansion includes a second vineyard, complete with a bottling line, and additions like a biodynamic vegetable garden, beehives, and free-range chickens, embodying their commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Though their journey hasn’t been without challenges, Ben and Naomi are proud to share their wines with fellow enthusiasts, embracing transparency and inviting others to join them on their journey toward a better world.

Fine Wine Cellars

On the one hand, our role as a merchant of all things wine & spirits could not be simpler. We aim to source the most delicious, the most authentic, and the highest quality products possible from Australia and around the world in order to offer them to our clients. We live or die by how well we perform this task. Of course things are rarely as simple or as easy as they seem. Hunting for wines & spirits is no different. Apart from the months spent travelling, countless days and evenings spent tasting and the outrageous wine expenditure in the name of ‘research’, sourcing quality wine and spirits requires expertise and experience. Understanding the potential of a producer and their products is much more than just a slurp and a spit.

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