Aroma
A beautiful, pristine aromatic profile from a cool vintage, typified by classic lemon, lime, and grapefruit citrus notes combined with subtle white nectarine. Secondary notes of roasted nuts and freshly baked sourdough, from the gentle use of oak and lees stirring, create a refined yet complex Chardonnay.
Palate
Vibrancy and refinement carry through from the nose as the
prominent features of this 2023 Chardonnay. The palate is
driven by a bright mineral acidity and backed up with classic
stone fruit and pink grapefruit primary fruits, hallmark traits
of the Gingin clone. A touch of creaminess from the lees stirring
and a supple texture flowing through the mid-palate add an
extra dimension, giving the wine layers and length. A pure and
concentrated palate of Margaret River Chardonnay.
Vinification
Our finest Chardonnay fruit for this wine comes from two
vineyards: one from our Wilyabrup Vineyard and the other
from a stunning north-facing slope located in the area of
Treeton. The fruit is all hand-picked and whole bunches
pressed in the cool of the early morning in small, three-tonne
batches. Fermentation for this wine occurred naturally with
wild or indigenous yeasts. No acid or fining agents were added
to the wine during production whatsoever. All barrels had SO2
added immediately post-fermentation, with no MLF allowed to
occur. The lees were stirred monthly, and the wine was matured
for eight months in oak. All of the barrels used were French,
with the barrel selection coming from 225-litre barriques.
Approximately 30% of the oak was new, with the remaining
two-thirds made up of one- and two-year-old barrels.
Cellaring Potential
10-15 years.
Vintage Notes
After a relatively cold and long winter with solid rainfall, the
growing season began late due to a later than average bud
burst. The cool, wet weather extended into the start of spring;
however, fortunately, some great fruit set occurred for most
varieties, and yields were set up beautifully. Late spring and
summer arrived quickly, bringing drier weather, albeit with
mild temperatures, which was perfect for an even ripening
period, for all white varieties. Aromatic whites showed great
vibrancy, and Chardonnay exhibited lovely acid retention,
physiological ripeness, and flavour. No major rain events
occurred during the white harvest. One significant challenge
throughout the entire harvest was the complete lack of Marri
blossom, which meant the birds put great pressure on the
vineyards, making netting vital. All in all, 2023 was an excellent
vintage in Margaret River!
