The fruit was picked from the Great Southern (79%) and the Margaret River (21%) regions. The wine was barrel fermented and aged in 60% new and 40% 1 and 2 year old French oak for 12 months. It is a very stylish and extremely successful modern wine, far superior of the 2002 CAPE MENTELLE tasted a couple weeks back. Released under screw cap, alcohol is at 13.5% vol.
Colour vibrant hay with gold and a green tinge. Reserved, restrained Chablis-like nose of stone fruits and vanilla barrel ferment characters. Quite full bodied, rich and silky smooth in the mouth. Round and fat, this wine is perfectly blended and balanced. Buttery, cool chardonnay fruit balanced by fine acid, and with lovely complexity. A classy and very good example of a W.A. Chardonnay. Excellent drinking now and over the next 3 years. It cost AU $36 and itÂ’s a fair price as youÂ’ll get a clean and silky smooth good drinking wine.
Tasted: November 2004
Cheers,
Attila