Nose

The nose exhibits aromas of fresh cut pear and honey dew melon with some zesty citric
notes. There are no overt woody or buttery aromas with the primary fruit characters expressed
with clarity and definition.

Palate

The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity
flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright. This is a restrained style
of Australian Chardonnay and highlights how far we have come with this style of wine over the
last decade.

Growing Conditions

What a sweet vintage for Margaret River grape growers! Following a good winter
was a mild and calm spring with generally good weather during the crucial flowering period, that
is the stage at which the flowers are fertilized and begin to form individual grape berries. This
stage can often be quite wild and stormy leading to significant loss of fruit.
The beginning of summer was mild, almost perfect growing conditions. There was a small rain
event in January which may have caused consternation had it continued but it was mercifully
brief leading to several months of virtually rain free weather. Chardonnay was harvested in early
February. Pristine fruit with fresh flavours and good acidity.

Winemaking

Only free run juice from the old vine Gin Gin clone Chardonnay was used
in the making of this wine, this component of the juice is the highest in quality with the most
intense fruit expression and the lowest in undesirable phenolic skin characters. The clear juice
was fermented in French oak barriques; 30% new with the balance being one, two and three years
old. The wine was matured in the same barriques for a further 10 months. No lees stirring or malo
lactic fermentation was allowed in order to preserve and highlight the purity of fruit expression.
The objective was to make a wine that expressed the character of this superb vineyard in an
elegant and restrained style of wine that would be bright, vibrant and fresh in its youth but benefit
from medium term cellaring.

Appearance

The wine displays fresh green tinges on a pale straw colour.