La Source Chardonnay 2019 Evening Land

Professional reviews

Winespectator (94)

A wine of depth and presence, this Chardonnay offers an array of intriguing flavors, from apple and stony mineral to lemon verbena and blanched almond. Takes on richness toward the steely finish.

James Suckling (94)

A wine of depth and presence, this Chardonnay offers an array of intriguing flavors, from apple and stony mineral to lemon verbena and blanched almond. Takes on richness toward the steely finish.

Jancis Robinson (17.50)

Pale lemon in colour. Green apples, vanilla, and cedar on the nose. This is very restrained and mineral but with viscosity and length on the palate. Bright acid. Well balanced. This has improved since the last time I tasted it, and I think that will continue. (SCJ)

Decanter (94)

The grapes for La Source come from just down the slope in the Seven Springs vineyard from the top-of-the-line Summum bottling, but are tended with the same biodynamic methods, and the fermentation is the same. They are now using 500 litre Austrian puncheons from Stockinger with a very light toast, and the slightly reductive style still shows the influence of mentor Dominique Laron. La Source is similar to Summum but creamy and a bit softer, yet it has a charm of its own.

BOW (8.50)

Owen Bargreen (94)

Sourced from the iron-rich and stony portion of the vineyard, the glorious 2019 ‘La Source’ Chardonnay weighs in at a mere 12.9% alcohol, as this was stored in Austrian puncheons before bottling. The palate is wonderfully flinty with bright pear and citrus zest flavors alongside suggestions of white rose water, and lighter dried mango notes. Finishing exceedingly long, this complex, mineral-laden, bottling will surely survive for another fifteen years.