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2022 Stevens Road Chardonnay

$100.00
$600.00

728 in stock

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This limited production single vineyard Chardonnay demonstrates our philosophy of selecting only the very best rows from the very best blocks on the property. Sourced from Block 2 of our Stevens Road vineyard, 3km down the road from the Xanadu winery on the Boodjidup Brook, this wine offers a unique expression of the outstanding quality wine this special little vineyard is capable of producing. Producing some of our best Chardonnay, the pedigree of the Stevens Road vineyard deserves recognition in its own right and is bottled as this single vineyard wine.

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  • Viticulture
  • Tasting Notes
  • Winemaking
  • Professional Reviews
  • Related Wines
  • Delivery Information

    Delivery Information

    Australia Post delivery timeframes:

    *Please note: these delivery timeframes are subject to change, particularly during Christmas and other periods where transport networks are impacted.

    • Melbourne – 3 to 5 business days
    • Sydney & Adelaide – 3 to 5 business days
    • Brisbane – 3 to 6 business days
    • Perth & Darwin – 5 to 8 business days

    For all international inquiries please email us.

Viticulture

Chardonnay (100%)
2022
Margaret River
After a long, and relatively cold and wet winter, budburst was later than usual, and about a week or two later than last season. Spring brought about more wet and windy conditions, which also affected fruit set. Despite the late start to the season, the fantastic WA summer saw warm, fine weather and a few very hot periods, allowing the growing season to catch up. Marri trees had a bumper year for blossom, which always bodes well, distracting birds away from the fruit (at least for the first half of the season while the blossom lasted). There was no significant weather pressure early in the vintage, in fact the warm conditions meant the whites were harvested at a frenetic pace to preserve natural acidity. Yields were relatively low however the fruit quality was excellent with great flavour intensity. In summary 2022 will be remembered as an outstanding vintage in Margaret River. The fruit for this Chardonnay is from Block 2 of our Stevens Road Vineyard, situated on the Boodjidup Brook, approximately 3km from the winery. Fruit of this mature, low yielding vineyard has consistently produced some of our best Chardonnay each vintage. The pedigree of the vineyard deserves recognition, so much so, that we release the best barrels as a Single Vineyard wine.

Tasting Notes

Pale Straw.
The bouquet of this elegant Chardonnay displays delicate white fleshed stone fruits, citrus and floral characters with underlying hints of sea spray and wet stone adding complexity.
The sophisticated palate is medium bodied, offering white peach and lemon/lime flavours with a wonderful saline tang. A crystalline, mineral structure combines with bracing acidity focussing the wine to a crisp, lingering finish.
A modern, refined style of Chardonnay, displaying classic Margaret River hallmarks. The 2022 Stevens Road Chardonnay is a wine which, while drinking well in its youth will certainly reward with careful cellaring, developing further complexity from bottle maturation.

Winemaking

13%
750ml
3.02
Made entirely from Gingin clone Chardonnay, which was handpicked on the 24th of February. The fruit was whole bunch pressed, followed by 100% barrel fermentation in select French oak (20% new oak). Wild fermentation was encouraged on all components, to introduce more complexity and personality into the wine. All barrels were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation. The final blend was curated in November 2022. The 2022 Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay is made from qualifying grapes at a winery certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.

Professional Reviews

98
This is generally a fine and more delicate Chardonnay compared to the Reserve. It works really well in this season, striking the balance between power and finesse. More citrussy than the Reserve with notes of stone fruit, popcorn and just a little oyster shell minerality. The crystalline palate is bright and lively with a deep intensity focused keenly to a long finish. Wonderful mouthfeel.
97
There is power and concentration here that reflects a warm and low-yielding season, yet the tension and energy upheld through blocking MLF is magnificent! The result is a Stevens Road that sets an impressive juxtaposition between the white peach, fig, grapefruit and ginger depth of Gingin Chardonnay clone, the creamy texture of classy French oak and the scintillating, salivating drive of malic acidity. I love it!
96
The 2022 season in Margaret River was warm and short, and the wines have been nutty, luxurious and richly flavored. Vineyard positioning impacts the way the wines taste, and this Xanadu Steven's Road vineyard is in a cooler pocket, just slightly to the southwest of Margaret River town. Winemaker Glenn Goodall deliberately prevents malolactic fermentation—it has become part of the house style—and this lends race and pace to the wines. So, this 2022 Stevens Road Chardonnay is spicy, nutty and electric and runs with an austere acid line. It courses through the tributaries of the fruit and enlivens the wine. This acidity can render the wines austere in their youth, but as older wines, they evolve into toasty, mineral, spicy iterations of their younger selves. Xanadu Chardonnays are exciting wines for the cellar.
95
Has a slight struck match character, along with lime, grapefruit, white peach, some fennel, light spice and almond nougat. Medium-bodied, lively acidity with plenty of fine flinty texture, green olive , a little parmesan rind, citrus, white peach, and again that lovely almond gloss to temper the wine. Finish is lively and long. Balance between freshness and flavour is excellent here. Lovely wine.
95
Gold Medal
95
It has all the hallmarks of the site – Block 2, off Stevens Road, obviously, all Gingin clone, whole-bunch pressed to French oak, wild fermentation. And while there’s lees stirring throughout its nine months in barrel, there’s no mlf. It’s still a little frisky from youth as the acidity holds sway, yet in-between pink grapefruit and lime juice, zest and pith, too. There’s some depth and texture via lees input and the oak, yet all well placed and adding extra dimensions to this enjoyable wine.

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