VINEYARD & WINEMAKING

Chardonnay is extremely well suited to the cool climate environment of the Great Southern wine region. Chardonnay from the vineyard sites in this part of Western Australia tend to ripen slowly, developing complex flavours while also retaining an elegant natural acidity which provides for a lovely balance between richness and vibrancy.

The 2022 season brought about a warm spring which resulted in a good start to the ripening season. Even temperature days and cool nights helped to retain the natural acidity in the fruit while full flavours developed.

The 2022 chardonnay fruit was harvested in three parcels on 12th, 23rd and 26th March 2022. In each instance the fruit was chilled overnight and then fermented in approximately 25% new and 75% one year old Burgundian oak barriques. The chardonnay barrels were lees stirred weekly for four months and then left to settle in barrel for a further four months before being prepared for bottling.

THE WINE

This wine has bright aromas of lemon curd and peach with a subtle mealy character. The palate displays a modern styled chardonnay of citrus zest and stone fruit with the use of new oak providing a subtle spice character. The wine is bright and mouth filling with a long lingering finish. The delicacy and acid profile of this year’s chardonnay augur well for its cellaring potential.

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CRITIC REVIEWS OF NOTE

2022 Vintage

95 points, Wine Showcase Magazine, July 2023
92 points, The Real Review, Febraruy 2024

2021 Vintage

93 points, Wine Showcase Magazine, Dec 2021

2020 Vintage

Gold, 95 points, Wine Showcase Magazine, Mar 2021

2019 Vintage

96 points, value rosette, James Halliday, 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, Aug 2021
4 stars, Winestate Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021
4 stars, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Mar 2020

2018 Vintage

94 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Apr 2020
93 points, Steven Creber, Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2019
92 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Jun 2019
91 points, Steve Leszczynski, QWine, Feb 2019

2017 Vintage

91+ points, Campbell Mattinson, The Real Review, May 2019
96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, Mar 2019
17.75 points, Regan Drew, Vinonotebook, Dec 2018
92 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Oct 2018
90 points, Steve Leszczynski, QWine, Jul 2018

2016 Vintage

93 points, Jane Faulkner, Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2017
93 points, Ray Jordan, West Weekend Magazine, Jul 2017
'Delicious Drinking', Regan Drew, Vinonotebook, Aug 2017

2015 Vintage

94 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, Feb 2017
90+ points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, May 2016

2014 Vintage

95 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, Jul 2015
18 points, John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly

2013 Vintage

96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, Dec 2013
92 points, Huon Hooke, Jan 2014

2012 Vintage

94 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, Jul 2013