The Merricks Chardonnay, from 26-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.