Garagiste is one of Victoria’s brightest stars. Barnaby Flanders created this label in 2006 (the term Garagiste referring to the Bordelaise) following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman. Produced in small quantities today focuses on a range of small-batch wines from the Mornington Peninsula with an emphasis on single-site, sub-regional expressions from around the region. Flanders’ goal is to work with high-quality, respectably farmed parcels from Tuerong and Moorooduc, in the North to the more central Merricks and Merricks North, and finally the more elevated and southern sub zones of Red Hill and Main Ridge.

Tuerong is the oldest site that Barney works (planted in the late ‘80s). The Chardonnay here is always picked first, providing a barometer for the progression of the rest of the vintage. 

Tasting Note:
The Tuerong Chardonnay is an excellent example of the quality of wines he produces. There's a power and intensity to this Chardonnay, a lightning strike of acidity, a curl of luscious oak; all the while, the purity of the fruit and the characters of the vineyard remain the key point of focus.