Tasting Notes
The Merricks Chardonnay, from 27-year-old vines grown on soils of grey loams and red ferrosols on south and south-east facing slopes, was hand-harvested and hand-sorted before it was whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation was natural with high levels of solids in François Frères 500-litre puncheons (20% new). A small portion went through natural malolactic fermentation and the wine then rested on full gross lees for nine months before bottling. Flanders seeks out slow and long lees interaction, choosing extended, gentle contact over bâtonnage for all his Chardonnays. - Distributor Note
Garagiste is a boutique winery on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, founded by Barnaby Flanders in 2006 with a focus on small-batch, site-driven wines. The project centres on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, exploring the subtle differences of Mornington’s sub-regions through single-site bottlings from Merricks, Balnarring and Tuerong, alongside carefully crafted regional blends.
The vineyards are farmed with sustainable practices, favouring low yields and close planting to capture intensity and precision. In the cellar, winemaking is minimalist: wild ferments, gentle extraction, sensitive oak use and an emphasis on letting each site speak. The result is a suite of wines that are finely structured, elegant and mineral-driven, marked by purity and regional clarity.
Garagiste has become a leading name in the Mornington Peninsula’s new generation of producers, celebrated for delivering thoughtful, terroir-focused wines that balance immediacy with the ability to age.
| Product Type | Wine White Chardonnay |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Victoria |
| Sub Region | Mornington Peninsula |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Minimal Intervention |