2017 Reserve Chardonnay (Limited Museum Release)

Varietals:  100% Chardonnay

Appearance (on release):  Pale, golden straw with bright green tints.

Aroma (on release):  A rich, precise nose of grapefruit zest, white peach, citrus blossom and roasted cashew with hints of subtle flint complexity.

Palate (on release):  A palate of foremost precision and delicacy, requisite power and complexity. Abundant stone fruits and citrus drive, oyster shell, seaspray refreshment, toasted nuts and spice balanced by a moreish salted lime acid and framed by beautiful tight-grained French oak elegance.

Winemaking:  Fruit was handpicked and whole-bunch pressed straight to barrel for natural ferment by wild yeast. Partial malolactic fermentation and judicious lees stirring during maturation built palate weight, texture and complexity.  Blended via barrel selection, the wine was then heat and cold stabilised with minimal fining and filtered prior to bottling end of 2017.

Oak Detail:  10-months maturation in a combination of 66% new and balance 2nd use tight-grained French oak barriques – Taransaud, Mercurey & Francois Freres.

Cellaring:  Drink by 2027

Alcohol Volume:  12.5%
Acidity:  pH 3.21 TA 7.0 g/L
Residual Sugar:  1.5 g/L

Awards & Reviews:
Top Gold – 2019 Royal Adelaide Wine Show
Gold – 2018 Royal Sydney Wine Show
Gold – 2018 Royal Perth Wine Show
Gold – 2018 Australian Small Winemaker’s Show

95pts: "Medium to full yellow hue. Nutty oak shows quite strongly at first, the palate full-bodied and rich, but also light on its feet, with intense grapefruit and lemon flavours backed by sensitively used oak and refreshing acidity that enlivens the entire wine through to the last. Long carry. A very smart chardonnay. 2020-2027" Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 16 April 2020