ELANTO

Mornington peninsula, Australia

Philosophy & Site

Sandro Mosele and Tony Todaro believe the key to maximising quality is with a high-density vineyard where the vines are planted much closer together. Rows are 1.2m apart and the vines 0.75m apart, which gives a planting density of 11,111 vines per hectare. This is more than four times the density of conventional Australian vineyards.

There are 3 unique sites (lieux-dits) planted to Chardonnay, each with their own unique attributes. Seawinds covers 1.30 Hectares with a steeper, more southerly aspect, open to prevailing SW wind. The soil here is deep red volcanic at the top which transitions to lighter and more gravelly at the lower reaches and to the East. The wines are rounder, full and complete. The 0.98 Ha Buckshot vineyard has an abundance of ironstone encrusted pebbles or ‘buckshot’, formed over millions of years when iron-rich groundwater precipitates out, coating the grains or pebbles. The natural acid line provides great tension in the wine.Located in the lower and middle reaches of the hill. The 1.68Ha Verge soil is lighter and more gravelly. The vines are less vigourous and the wines are balanced and harmonious.

Winemaking

This wine is a blend of the Verge, Buckshot and Seawinds sites. Each was picked and vinified separately. The fruit was hand sorted and then whole bunch pressed with the juice run direct to a mix of new and older French oak barriques. A natural fermentation and 10 months in barrel before being transferred to large concrete vats for a further 2 months maturation before bottling in the winery under Diam 30 closure and a wax dip.

We Say

“I will always remember the first time I tasted the 2023 Balnarring Chardonnay, I was reunited with a great friend in a wine bar in Perth, we ate scallop ceviche and washed it down with this incredible wine, elegant, fresh, saline, with beautiful fruit purity. Holy moly this is sublime!”

They Say

“2026 Halliday New Winery Of The Year”

Halliday Wine Companion Awards