2024 Electrum Skin Fermented Chardonnay

Made from 100% Estate Grown Chardonnay. This wine was fermented on skins with thrice daily manual punchdowns for 26 days. Indigenous yeast for initial fermentation and indigenous bacteria for malolactic fermentation. No enzymes or nutrients used. Stainless steel vessel & 1 neutral oak barrel only. Unfiltered and unfined, bottled by hand with minimal sulphur additions. New label artwork with original oil painting by Marc Gagné.

Tasting notes by Rick VanSickle

Last House Electrum Skin Fermented White 2024 ($30, 90 points) — Sourced from a single block of Chardonnay planted in 2018 this “orange wine” was 25% whole cluster pressed with punch downs three times daily and 26 days of skin contact. It was finished with no fining, no filtering and very little sulphur added. It was aged in a 220 L JK Hungarian oak, what Gagné likes to call his Lucky Barrel. “Since 2019 the best wines of each vintage come out of that (barrel),” said Heinricks. “It’s spooky.”

It shows a light amber colour in the glass with a nose of elderflowers, quince, citrus marmalade, peach tart, saline minerality, jasmine, a touch of reduction, tea leaves and savoury notes. On the palate, this is a wild and untethered orange wine with a level of reduction that the cool kids will adore (I mean that in the best sense of the word) with earthy/savoury notes, light tannins, peach pie, marmalade, bin apples, a touch of tropical fruits, sizzling acidity and energy through the bright finish. A cleaner style of orange wine with just enough funk to attract lovers of this style and maybe find a few converts along the way. Reductive notes will fade a bit with a little time in the cellar, if you prefer.