2019 Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay 

Mandarin peal, white blossom and ruby grapefruit aromas give way to stone fruit and a seductive nougat element. Creamy, nutty and textured, this Chardonnay is both powerful in fruit concentration and restrained by a precise acid line. A layered wine with persistence, power and grace and a true representation of this south Margaret River vineyard just inland from the coast.

Vintage Report

Vintage 2019 required meticulous vineyard management as a result of cooler than average temperatures, wet conditions and low sun exposure. Careful canopy management, precise picking decisions and accurate fruit sorting were essential for producing high quality wines. The Marri trees didn’t blossom and the birds were hungry resulting in a lower than average yield despite our extensive netting program. Smaller canopies in our dry farmed vineyards and regular leaf plucking enabled us to pick ripe, clean fruit and produce whites with excellent purity and great natural acidity. Reds benefited from the long ripening season showing elegant tannins and great aromatic lift.

Winemaking

Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and transferred directly to oak with full solids. Fermented by the native years in barrique (approximately 30% new). Post ferment, barrels are left cool but unsulphured for 4 months to encourage autolytic activity. Batonnage every two weeks based on flavour and partial MLF to balance the high natural acidity of this vintage. Wine was racked with full lees to tank in December and spent two months on lees in tank before bottling in February 2020.

Vineyard

100% Hazel’s Vineyard. Our southernmost vineyard which is more inland than our Burnside and Calgardup vineyards. Hazel’s combines cooling Southern Ocean influences with a northerly aspect and plenty of sunshine. 

District of Origin

100% Margaret River

Grapes

100% Single Vineyard Chardonnay Gingin clone

Analysis

Alc 13.3%

pH 3.23

TA 6.6 g/L