THE WINERY
Ossa began in 2017 when Rod and Cecile Roberts purchased their 600-hectare farm on the East Coast of Tasmania. The winery is named after Mount Ossa which is in central highlands of Tasmania and is quite a dramatic landmark of dolerite, granite and ice.
Parcels of land in this now revered wine growing appellation are very tightly held and rarely become available. Rod’s background in horticulture and his knowledge of the local soil and water dynamics made them confident grapes could flourish on the property. They planted 20 hectares of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Gruener Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Today they are making four wines Pinot Noir (winner of the 2020 Pinot Noir Challenge on debut), Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner and a Methode Traditonelle (sparkling wine).
WINE MAKING
Produced by winemaker Liam McElhinney, using a combination of chardonnay clones I10V1 and P58 the fruit was gently pressed into large format seasoned French oak for indigenous fermentation. With just 175 cases of chardonnay produced, the wine then only received minimal intervention during the 10 month élevage on lees in barrel prior to bottling.
THE WINE TASTING
This is a chardonnay the delivers both power and finesse. There is a richness in the stone fruit flavours and lovely length in the light citrus acid that stays on the palate in a tension between rich, velvet and sharp. A toasted nuttiness that brings hints of the oak together in layers of complexity. This is a delicious easy to drink wine.
Price | $90
Grapes | Chardonnay (100%)
Oak | French Oak
Alcohol | 13%
pH | 3.31
RS | <1 gL
REVIEWS
92/100 Points – Sebastian Somerled Almanak
97/100 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
LINKS
https://ossa.wine/product/2021-chardonnay-tasmania-case-of-six/