
This vineyard lies just inland from the coast. Its sandy, schisty soils are well weathered. These chardonnay vines run east-west with a slightly sloping northern aspect.
100% Calgardup Brook Vineyard
100% Single Vineyard Chardonnay | Gingin clone
In Stock
Wine Specs
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Chardonnay
Vineyard
Calgardup Brook Vineyard
Harvest Date
8th February 2020
Aging
1-15 years
Bottling Date
February 2021
Alcohol %
13.5
The Wine Front
95
Wine Advocate
96
Halliday Wine Companion
97
James Suckling
95
Ray Jordan
96
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with notes of sea spray, spiced pears, pink grapefruit and delicate wet stone. Wild fermentation with full solids provides flinty complexity and extended time on lees adds intrigue and excellent length to the palate. A distinctive saline acidity and attractive chalk-like structure complement the mineral nature of this unique Southern Margaret River vineyard near the Indian Ocean.
Vineyard
100% Calgardup Brook. This vineyard lies just inland from the coast. Its sandy, schisty soils are well weathered. These chardonnay vines run east-west with a slightly sloping northern aspect.
Wine Making
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 2021.
Vintage Report
We were blessed with near perfect growing conditions in Margaret River in 2020. A warmer than usual Spring, a dry, sunny Summer and cool nights. Significant diurnal temperature variations meant perfect ripening conditions across all of our dry grown vineyards. No disease and virtually no bird pressure (particularly at the start of harvest) meant we were able to pick beautifully clean fruit at ideal ripeness and flavour levels ... A real treat for our winemaking team. The only downside was exceptionally low yields across all varieties. Our dry farmed vineyard responded to the drier seasonal conditions by producing tiny and light bunches with small berries. Consequently, the fruit has incredible concentration and has retained a lovely natural acidity.