A ‘natural wine’, this is a pure and raw expression of place free from winemaking manipulation and artefact.
100% Hazel's Vineyard
Grapes: Select parcels of Chardonnay from the Apiary block Gingin clone
In Stock
Wine Specs
Vintage
2023
Varietal
Chardonnay
Vineyard
Hazel's Vineyard
Aging
Drink Now
Alcohol %
12.8
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
This wine draws its name from beehives perched atop of this block at our biodynamically farmed Hazel’s vineyard in southern Margaret River. This is a pure and raw expression of place free from wine making manipulation and artefact. It has a cloudy appearance, which is the natural result from being unfiltered and unfined. The wine shows a complex nose with lemon pastry, lemon zest and frangipani sitting on top of a palate of white nectarine. There is vibrancy and freshness with intertwining savouriness, waxy texture and creamy complexity all framed by attractive phenolics that carry the wine to a lingering finish.
Vineyard
100% Hazel’s Vineyard. Our southernmost vineyard further inland than our Burnside and Calgardup vineyards. Hazel’s combines cooling Southern Ocean influences with a northerly aspect and plenty of sunshine.
Certified Biodynamic.
Wine Making
Select parcels of Chardonnay from the Apiary block were handpicked and whole bunch pressed straight to a 700L concrete vessel and a couple of old barrels without any sulphur addition. The juice underwent wild yeast and partial malo-lactic fermentation and was left on full lees for 8 months. Moved only once in the winery a few days before being bottled without any sulphur, fining or filtration.
Vintage Report
A season of great balance, which produced wines of grace, perfume, and longevity. Winter was wet and cooler than average, and we experienced a cool but dry spring across the Margaret River region. Good flowering conditions resulted in good bunch numbers and weights, producing good yields after three years of tiny crops. Summer was one of the driest on record with relatively mild temperatures leading into January; these conditions delayed canopy development but January bought fantastic weather with warm, sunny, and breezy days as hoped, but without any temperature spikes and heat stress. Excellent diurnal temperature variation was a constant of this season, setting us up for a highly aromatic vintage and perfect phenological ripeness of the skins and seeds. Our whites show great freshness and aromatic lift, once again Chardonnay was a standout variety in 2023.