Bondar's 2019 Fiano is sourced from Ben Lacey's vineyard in Seaview (McLaren Vale). The vines are now seven years old, grafted onto 25-year-old Chardonnay rootstocks rooted in shallow dark Biscay clay over limestone. While yields were down this year, the quality of fruit was outstanding--the grapes' naturally high acidity tempered some of the more exuberant Fiano flavours. Picked at...
Bondar's 2019 Fiano is sourced from Ben Lacey's vineyard in Seaview (McLaren Vale). The vines are now seven years old, grafted onto 25-year-old Chardonnay rootstocks rooted in shallow dark Biscay clay over limestone. While yields were down this year, the quality of fruit was outstanding--the grapes' naturally high acidity tempered some of the more exuberant Fiano flavours. Picked at the beginning of March and lightly whole-bunch pressed to two ceramic eggs and a single barrel for fermentation. The finished wines remained on lees, unsulphured until August, before being blended to create this small-batch release.
"Hand-picked at dawn, fermented in ceramic eggs. Here it is again, fiano is a white wine with its own inbuilt characteristic of producing its own texture and structure - oak not needed nor included. Really attractive wine, great value." 94 points, James Halliday, Winecompanion.com.au