Viticulture

Our Chardonnay vines were meticulously managed to ensure a balanced crop was ripened during the cooler and consistent vintage of 2017. Picking of our best chardonnay commenced on the 8th of March and was completed on the 24th of March.

Winemaking

The hand-picked fruit was held in cold storage overnight to eliminate the need for must chilling. After pressing off skins and separating press fractions, the juice was allowed to settle naturally before racking to achieve a desired level of solids. The juice was then transferred to French oak barriques and puncheons to commence fermentation with a mix of inoculated and wild fermentation.
44% of the wine was put through malo-lactic fermentation for the sole purpose of reducing the higher than normal malic acid levels in the juice, which was due to the cooler than normal growing season. Stirring of the yeast lees continued for seven months before the wine was allowed to clarify and rest on lees

Storage / Bottling

Bottled in November 2017 under screw cap in a premium burgundy bottle. This closure should extend the cellaring life of the wine by reducing subtle oxidative robbing of flavour.

James Halliday Wine Companion

2015 Chardonnay 95 Points
2014 Chardonnay 91 Points
2013 Chardonnay 90 Points
2012 Chardonnay 96 Points (Plus Best of Chardonnay 2015 List)
2011 Chardonnay 90 Points
2010 Chardonnay 92 Points
2009 Chardonnay 95 Points
2008 Chardonnay 94 Points
2007 Chardonnay 89 Points
2006 Chardonnay 89 Points
2005 Chardonnay 94 Points
2004 Chardonnay 91 Points
2002 Chardonnay 86 Points

2016 Chardonnay

Top 100 – Sydney International Wine Competition 2018
Blue Gold – Sydney International Wine Competition 2018
Gold Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2017
94 points – Wine Showcase Magazine 2017
Silver Medal – London International Wine Challenge 2017
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2017
92 points – Wine Showcase Magazine 2016
90 PointsJames Halliday Chardonnay Challenge 2017
Bronze Medal – Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Show 2017
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2017
Bronze Medal – WA (Mt Barker) Wine Show 2016

2015 Chardonnay

Gold – 94 points – Wine Showcase Magazine 2016
Silver Medal – Royal Adelaide Show 2016
Bronze Medal – London International Wine Challenge 2016
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2016
Bronze Medal – Royal Perth Wine Show 2016
Bronze Medal – WA (Mt Barker) Wine Show 2016

2014 Chardonnay

Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge 2015
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2015
Silver Medal – Royal Adelaide Show 2015
Bronze Medal – Royal Queensland Wine Show
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2015
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2015
Bronze Medal – Rutherglen Wine Show 2015
95 Points- Wine Showcase Magazine 2015

2013 Chardonnay

BLUE GOLD – Sydney International Wine Competition 2015
4 Stars – Winestate Chardonnay Tasting 2015
Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014
18 – 18.5 / 20 – Fine Wine Club 2015
92 Points – Huon Hooke
90 Points – James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge 2014
5 Bronze Medals – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2014, Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2014, International Wine Challenge 2014, Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2014

18 – 18.5 / 20 – Fine Wine Club
“With youthful fresh fruit and acidity, this is a wine of real potential. Lemon curd, nectarine and fine grained French oak all feature. Excellent fruit, in a minimalist style, with a textured, almost chewy finish. Great now, but will be even better with a year or two in the bottle.”

92 Points – Huon Hooke
“Bright, light to medium yellow colour. The aroma is shy and subdued, with pleasant aromas, peach and other stone fruit notes, with a light veneer of smoky toasty oak, honey and other artifact characters subtly applied, but the fruit leads the way. The profile is fine and stylish, elegant and reasonably understated, with balance and good length. Very appealing ‘clean’ style of chardonnay.”

2012 Chardonnay

96 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion 2015 (Plus Best of Chardonnay 2015 List)
Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014
94 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine August 2013
93++ Points – Philip White
92 Points – WineGenius.com
90 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Bronze Medal – Adelaide Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013
3 Stars – Winestate Best of the West 2014

2011 Chardonnay

Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013
Silver Medal Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2012
93 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2013
Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge 2012
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2012

“Some quality oak underpins what is a largely fruit-driven chardonnay. Beautiful nutty stone fruit aromas with touches of lemon rind. The palate is rich and slightly creamy with some appealing stone fruit influence. This is starting to develop into a mighty impressive chardonnay and further ageing will see it move into a new zone. Elegant and refined with a long finish.” 93 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014

2010 Chardonnay

Gold Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2011
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2011
Silver Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2011
Silver Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Scoop Magazine Autumn Tasting 2011
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2011
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Fair 2011

2009 Chardonnay

Silver Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2010
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Comp 2010
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Rutherglen Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2010

2008 Chardonnay

Gold Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2010
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2008
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2009
4 stars, Top in category, Winestate Magazine 2010
3 1/2 stars, Winestate Magazine Best of the West 2010

2007 Chardonnay

TROPHY “National Champion White Wine” – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2009
Blue Gold Medal – Sydney International Wine Comp 2009
Gold Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2010
Gold Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2009
Gold Medal – Rutherglen Agricultural Wine Show 2008
Gold Medal – Scoop Magazine Spring Issue 2009
5 Stars, Top in class, Winestate Magazine July 2009
94 Points, Vintage Direct, Nicks Wine Merchant Nov 2009
92 Points, Gourmet Traveller WINE 2010
88 Points, Ray Jordan: 2010 WA Wine Guide
Silver Medal – Vintage Cellars National Wine Show 2009
Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2008
Silver Medal – Rutherglen Agricultural Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2008
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2009
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Comp 2009
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge London 2009
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2008

2006 Chardonnay

Silver Medal – Ray Jordan’s WA Wine Guide 2009
4 Stars, Winestate Magazine, Best of the West Tasting 2008
92 points, Campbell Mattinson: The Wine Front
5 Bronze Medals

2005 Chardonnay

Gold Medal – Rutherglen Agricultural Wine Show
5 Stars,Top in class: Winestate Magazine 2008,Best of the West Tasting
92 points, Campbell Mattinson: The Wine Front
3 Silver Medals
4 Stars, Winestate Magazine November 2007
9 Bronze Medals

2004 Chardonnay

4 Silver Medals
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2006
4 Stars, Winestate Magazine

2003 Chardonnay

2 Bronze Medals

2002 Chardonnay

Silver Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2002
4 Stars, Winestate Magazine
3 Bronze Medals