Matt Harrop
Macedon Ranges
Chardonnay
Matt grew up in Auckland, working his first vintage in 1988 at Nobilos, in West Auckland. He then studied at Roseworthy College, graduating in 1991.
Vintages in the Hunter Valley and a year with Jeff Grosset in the Clare Valley gave Matt an understanding of the discipline needed in both vineyard and winery to produce great Australian wine.
Matt then returned to the Hunter for three years as winemaker at Brokenwood. Under the tutelage of Iain Riggs, Matt was exposed to the best wines of Australia and the world, an incredibly valuable experience.
A brief stint as Senior Winemaker for Nautilus in Marlborough ensued before moving to Melbourne to create Shadowfax in 1999.
Shadowfax focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from cool regions around Melbourne led Matt and his family to purchase a small property and vineyard high in the Macedon Ranges, the coldest mainland winegrowing region in Australia. The first Silent Way wines were made in 2012.
Small in size but large on detail, Silent Way has rapidly gained a reputation for stunning cool climate wines with structure, concentration and complexity.
Silent Way by Matt Harrop
Silent Way 2014 Chardonnay Macedon Ranges
VINEYARDS
Midhill and Silent Way
WINEMAKING
Handpicked Chardonnay was whole bunch pressed and the juice settled overnight. Fermentation in new (10%) and used French oak hogsheads followed, utilising indigenous yeasts. The wine remained on less for 12 months before bottling in May 2015.
TASTING NOTES
Colour is mid straw with a green edge. Our ’14 show all the hallmarks of classic Macedon- white florals, early peach and a hint of reductive complexity. White stone fruit follows onto the palate, which is tightly coiled and still very youthful. The palate shows wonderful length and beautiful mineral acidity, a result of the cool season and sensitive winemaking.
ANALYSIS
Alc/Vol 13.2%
TA 7.2
pH 3.27
