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Aptitude Wines 'Kenton Valley' Chardonnay 2024
Grape Type Pronunciation: "shar-don-ay"
Primary flavours
Grapefruit
Lemon
Cashew
Pith
Details
The Kenton Valley is a cool spot in the Adelaide Hills that is renowned for a few excellent vineyards - the sort of location that winemakers (like Greg Clack) love, but no one else knows about. This Chardonnay is an ultra-cool and stylish wine too. It's a tight, flinty, slightly funky style with grapefruit, lemon pith, and cashew flavours, and a super-fresh finish.

Aptitude Wines is the new label of Greg Clack, the Chain of Ponds winemaker who has his fingers in all sorts of pies all over the Adelaide Hills. In particular, Greg loves the diversity the Hills offers, with sites that can make full-bodied reds and other spots that can make ultra-cool, refined fresh white wines. This Aptitude label is founded on 'the principle of precision and restraint', which basically translates into a lineup of wines that lean towards refinement and delicacy - and gee, they're impressive drinks. What's even more entertaining is the diversity: Greg has focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are usual for the Hills, but also on Nebbiolo and a range of Italian varieties. His philosophy is a respect for classic European traditions, adapted thoughtfully to Australian conditions. To get into the winemaking nitty-gritty, it translates to wild-yeast fermentation, restrained oak, and a big focus on celebrating different vineyard expressions (and the joy of the Adelaide Hills).
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Taste Profile
This wine’s tasting notes.
Sweetness
nonesomelots
Body
lightmediumfull
Fruitiness
lowmediumhigh
Tannins
lowmediumhigh
Acidity
lowmediumhigh
Oak
nonesomelots
Alcohol
low (under 12%)medium (12-14%)high (14%+)
Taste Summary
This wine’s tasting notes are leaning towards medium bodied, low sweetness, with high acidity, no fruitiness, low tannins, medium alcohol and some oak.
Specs
Region
Adelaide Hills
country
Australia
Grape type
Chardonnay
Wine Maker
Aptitude Wines
Alcohol
12.5%
Vintage
2024
Cellar period
5-10 years
Closure
Screw Cap
Production method
Vegan
Temperature
Cold 5°C-8°C
State
SA
Pairing guide
Racy, mouthwatering modern Australian Chardonnay is such a refreshing beast, and the extra complexity that wines like this dial in make it even more satisfying. With its bright acidity, this Chardonnay is an ideal pairing for shellfish - pretty much any shellfish - lightly fried in butter and herbs. It’s a top match for mussels, white fish, poached or grilled chicken, pasta with white meats, creamy and/or cheesy sauces, carbonara, and vegetable soups, too.
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Food
Oysters
Paté
Vongole
Tastes
Salty
Creamy
Moods
Contemplative
Creative
Seasons
Summer
Autumn
Spring
Recipe Matches
Wine region
Adelaide Hills, Australia
The Adelaide Hills wine region, located in South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia is characterised by its high altitude, cool climate, and diverse soils, which all contribute to the unique terroir that produces elegant, complex, and expressive wines. The region's altitude ranges from 400 to 700 meters above sea level, creating a cooler climate than other wine regions in South Australia. The cool temperatures slow down the ripening process of the grapes, resulting in wines with high acidity, delicate aromatics, and elegant flavours. Top sub-regions are Lenswood, Piccadilly Valley, and Basket Range, each with unique microclimates and diverse soil types that produce singular wine styles, the highlights are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and a whole lot more!
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