DOMAINE DEFIALY 'BLANC' 2024 🍷 The wine Producer: Defialy (Micah Hewitt, Macedon Ranges, VIC) Blend: ~55% Chardonnay + 45% Savagnin Alcohol: ~13.9% Price: ~AUD $40–45 Style: Textural natural white, Jura-inspired This is essentially an Australian take on a Jura-style white blend, which is pretty unusual locally. 🧪 How it’s made Hand-picked fruit Direct pressed + co-fermented (both grapes together) Aged ~15 months in old oak barrels Wild fermentation, unfiltered & unfined Small sulphur addition (~15 ppm) at bottling That combo gives it more texture and savoury complexity than your typical fresh Aussie white. 👃 Taste & style Expect something that leans textural and slightly funky, rather than crisp and simple: Fruit: green apple, lemon pith, orchard fruits Texture: fuller, slightly waxy / oily (from Savagnin + lees ageing) Acidity: fresh but not razor-sharp Extras: subtle oak, savoury edge, sometimes a faint salty/mineral note Overall: more “serious” and layered than it first looks, but still very drinkable. 🧭 What it’s like (in plain terms) Think halfway between Chardonnay and something more wild/savoury Inspired by Jura whites (oxidative, nutty, mineral styles—but this is a fresher version) Has that natural wine “alive” character without being too extreme 🍽️ How to drink it Best lightly chilled (not fridge-cold—let it open up) Benefits from a bit of air (decant or just swirl) Great with: roast chicken creamy sauces seafood (especially richer dishes) hard cheeses ⏳ Drink window Drink now → ~2028 Might develop more savoury/nutty notes with a bit of age 👍 Bottom line Buy it if: you like natural whites, Jura styles, or textured Chardonnay alternatives Skip it if: you want clean, crisp, classic whites (like straight Sauvignon Blanc) It’s a textural, slightly quirky white with real personality—less “refreshing smashable,” more “interesting and food-friendly.”