Nose
Our Reserve Chardonnay has a bright and lifted nose of sweet pastry,
lemon curd and fleshy white stonefruit.
Palate
The palate displays a rich and layered mix of fresh stone fruit, citrus and
intense vanilla bean flavours. A fine mineral thread ensures a wine of
length and persistence.
Growing Conditions
Vintage 2013 began with some wild weather during the Spring flowering
season, affecting crop yields by approximately 20 per cent. Growing conditions
for the remainder of the ripening phase were warm, sunny and at times hot
in the lead up to Christmas, allowing for full maturity of the whites without
harsh heat or storm damage. The ‘Indian Summer’ we experienced throughout
Autumn extended the ripening period of our red varieties, allowing for full
flavours and sugar development. Bird pressure was low early on in the season
due to the abundant Marri tree blossoming, however became more of an issue
late in the harvest period.
Our whites were mostly picked during March with the remainder of the harvest
and the red grape varieties coming in during the month of April. The warm
weather in the lead up to harvest ensured good natural acidity, flavour ripeness
and beautiful, aromatic fruit. Another wonderful Margaret River season.
Winemaking
Made from 100 per cent gin gin clone, the fruit for this wine was handpicked
and whole bunch pressed before fermentation in a selection of French oak barrels
(41% new and 51% one year old). A select 500L/t is utilised for the Reserve
Chardonnay, ensuring a fine and delicate expression of the fruit goes into this
reserve wine. A degree of fruit solids is retained in the juice with periodic lees
stirring for the following 10 months to further aid complexity and texture.
Fermentation of our Reserve Chardonnay is conducted by 100% natural yeast
and usually takes from 14-21 days to conclude.
Aging
Up to 5 years.
Appearance
Pale gold.
