Winemaker Notes
Pale straw with a light golden tinge. A subtle fragrance of fresh pineapple curd, crayon wax, cereal, bee pollen and chamomile. Secondary notes of hot wet stone and mushroom contribute a lovely exotic, savory nuance. Immediately juicy upfront, the fleshy, just-ripe fruit carries lovely fresh acidity and mouth-watering succulence. Hints of chamomile and salty, coastal herbs mingle with a waft of fresh lemon to linger on the fine-boned porcelain like palate texture.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I think sometimes this wine is overshadowed by the Heytesbury, which sits above it. However, it is an error to underestimate this wine. It may not have the funk nor the phenolic framework that the Heytesbury has, however it is possessed of a poise, polish and class that enables it to sit well in any glass. The 2020 vintage was warm, and the wines produced that year have been across the board excellent. In the 2020 Chardonnay, we see a combination of experienced hand and fortunate season in confluence, which brings us a wine that speaks of salted crushed nuts, pure apple, peach and even juniper, saltbush, a touch of kelp and layers of briney acidity. A brilliant wine.
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Wine Spectator
Impressive for its vitality and intensity, offering lemon curd, salted butterscotch and dried pineapple flavors, with Fuji apple and fresh ginger accents. The flavors are amplified and harmonious on the long, persistent finish.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.