Nose
Fresh citrus and melon aromas with delicate floral hints.
Palate
The palate is medium bodied with stone fruit and fresh citrus
flavours and a light touch of French oak. The wine finishes
smoothly with balanced acidity and lingering ripe fruit flavour.
Growing Conditions
The 2016 growing season had higher than average rain events
late in the winter, followed by another one in early spring,
which increased soil moisture. October conditions were
unseasonably warm, and combined with the increased soil
moisture caused slightly higher than normal vine growth. The
growing period was longer and milder which favoured the
earlier ripening varieties - overall a challenging, cooler vintage
resulting in leaner, elegant more complex, austere styles.
Winemaking
The fruit for this wine originates from two vineyards, the
Summus (Wilyabrup) and Carbunup River Vineyards. It was
picked "just on" ripeness with the resultant wine showing fully
ripe flavour yet retaining fresh and vibrant acidity. Machine
harvested at 3AM, the fruit was drained and pressed
immediately and the juice roughly clarified. The juice was
inoculated with Cru Blanc yeast and fermented cold over a 14
day period. At one third of the way through fermentation, 15%
of the wine was run off to seasoned 225L French oak barriques
to provide a creamy, textural component in the final blend. The
blend was assembled and finished in May and bottled at the
estate in June, capturing the freshness of the fruit as well as
allowing the textural oak components of the wine to contribute
flesh and body to the wine. A fresh and modern style of
Australian Chardonnay with ripe fruit flavours, a light touch of
oak and balanced acidity.
Appearance
Pale straw colour with a green hue.
