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2021 Reserve Chardonnay
$120.00
$720.00
176 in stock
The Reserve range continues to be the best of what we are able to produce in a given vintage. Our 11th consecutive release of our Reserve Chardonnay, 100% of the fruit for this wine is from our oldest Chardonnay vineyard, the Lagan Estate. The low yielding vineyard produces bunches with characteristic ‘hen and chicken’ architecture typical of the Gingin clone. Natural fermentation on fruit is encouraged to further emphasise the personality of this wonderful site, resulting in a medium bodied Chardonnay offering pear puree, zesty grapefruit flavours and a quartz-like, almost crystalline, mineral edge to the structure.
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- Viticulture
- Tasting Notes
- Winemaking
- Professional Reviews
- Related Wines
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Viticulture
Chardonnay |
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2021 |
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Margaret River |
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We had a great summer leading up to vintage, although a rain event about a week or so before the start of harvest lead to some unusually humid conditions (for Margaret River at least). Careful fruit selection in some vineyards was required as a result of the humidity, despite experiencing good weather during the white harvest. The end of the whites saw a bit more rain, which was then followed by fine weather for the rest of March setting up the Cabernets nicely. In summary 2021 was a more challenging season than usual, however the extra work in the vineyard ultimately paid dividends with some wonderfully elegant wines being produced as a result. 100% of the fruit for this Reserve Chardonnay is from our oldest Chardonnay vineyard, the Lagan Estate. The low yielding vineyard produces bunches with characteristic ‘hen and chicken’ architecture typical of the Gingin clone. We encourage natural fermentation on fruit from this vineyard to further emphasize the personality of this wonderful site which is directly adjacent to the winery. |
Tasting Notes
Pale Straw |
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The bouquet of this powerful, yet elegant Chardonnay displays fresh pear and lemon/lime characters with underlying hints of roasted cashews and frangipani adding complexity |
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The sophisticated palate is medium bodied with a wonderful purity of fruit, offering pear puree, zesty grapefruit flavours and a quartz-like, almost crystalline, mineral edge to the structure. Pristine fruit and tangy acid focus the wine to a crisp, lingering finish |
Winemaking
13% |
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750ml |
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3.04 |
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All of the fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed followed by 100% barrel fermentation in select French oak (28% new oak). Fermentation was allowed to occur naturally, with the wild yeasts responsible for the fermentation introducing more complexity and personality into the wine. Barrels were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation. Only the best barrels were selected for the final blend which was put together in November 2021. |
Professional Reviews
98
This was a vintage with some challenges largely as a result of rain and resulting humidity. It meant the vignerons were busy getting the fruit to the sorting table in top condition. Thankfully, that has been done and the result is an exceptional wine. After handpicking the fruit is whole bunch pressed and then 100% barrel fermented in oak of which 28% was new. The fermentation occurred naturally with wild yeasts and true to the Goodall style no malolactic fermentation to achieve a high degree of varietal and regional purity. In the end a selection of the best barrels makes it to the final blend. Spicy grapefruit aromas with a little lemon curd. The palate s super intense and linear with a bright chalky acidity pushing it through to a very long finish.
97
It can happen. One taste and, while thinking about some meaningful words to describe this exceptional wine, I’m already transported to my happy place. Forgive me. It took time to come back to earth. By then, I had drained the glass. I hope this is your experience, too. The power and beauty of Margaret River fruit are on full display with all the refinement and detail that comes with it. The palate pulses with energy, there’s texture via lees, and judicious handling of oak and fruit, of course. The tensile yet fine acidity weaves everything together towards a super-long finish.
97
A margarita-style Chardonnay if ever there was one, this feels like you're standing at the edge of the Indian Ocean (less than four miles from where these grapes are grown) on a brisk day, the salty sea air whipping, the sand between your toes, a lemon twist martini in hand. As delicious as it is evocative, it pings in the mouth with a lightly creamy texture and mouthwatering, laser-like, lemon zest acidity that lingers long on the finish, making it impossible to put down.
96
All old, Gingin clone chardonnay. Nougat, praline, creamed cashew, curd, white peach, pear sorbet and salubrious oak, impeccably integrated. Smoky, reductive and pungent without any constraint on the fruit. Mid-weighted, pristine and punchy, with an edge of chew for complexity. Yet a non-malolactic approach to crafting chardonnay may retain acidity, but it struggles to parlay the complexity in youth that will come with time. Be patient. A lovely, mid-weighted wine of scintillating length. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. Screw cap.
95
Light, bright and lively in appearance. Nutty, nougat aromas along with white stone fruit, grapefruit, mineral and wet stone. Complex, tightly bound and focused on the palate. There's a core drive of citrus and mineral along with a mealy, nutty edge, the acidity has real purpose and poise and there's a nice lick of phenolic grip bringing texture and mouthfeel. Serious chardonnay, built to last.
94
Tasted alongside the 2021 Giaconda Chardonnay, which is a nice thing to do. Expensive Chardonnay is nice. I like this better than the Stevens from the same vintage – better balance. Discreet sort of Chardonnay, and quite tightly wound. I’m thinking pear, lemon and lime, a little cedar, fennel tips, and a whisper of matchstick. Its light and zesty, flinty texture, firm cool acidity, some raw almond and green olive, a little cumquat jelly, with plenty of fresh squeezed lime on a finish of excellent length. Better in a year or two, though I really like its vivacity as a young wine.
94
Ripe attractive stone fruit and lemon nose with notes of honeydew melon, brioche and fresh honey. Impressive texture, bright and intense.
