The fruit is from a single site in the Walcliffe sub-region, but further from the coast, inland from the township of Margaret River. The Chardonnay block is again pretty tiny, with only 2 hectares planted. The plantings are oriented east-west, with a slight northerly aspect to the slope. This tiny four-tonne batch is a handpicked selection from the top of this slope. The fruit was harvested on the 19th February, chilled overnight and pressed as whole bunches into a selection of new, one- and two-year-old puncheons, with no settling or fining processes. This juice was then carefully monitored, and spontaneous fermentation kicked off on day three after pressing. After a four-week ferment, the wine remained on gross lees unsulphured until July of that year. In December, the wine was emptied from barrel, settled, filtered and bottled. The final blend saw around 20% new oak.
This lovely, supple, subtle wine, while being just that, still has trademark Margaret River fruit weight and drive. Think blossom, white nectarine, purity all wrapped in a Nocturne Chardonnay mineral blanket.
The fruit is from a single site in the Walcliffe sub-region, but further from the coast, inland from the township of Margaret River. The Chardonnay block is again pretty tiny, with only 2 hectares planted. The plantings are oriented east-west, with a slight northerly aspect to the slope. This tiny four-tonne batch is a handpicked selection from the top of this slope. The fruit was harvested on the 19th February, chilled overnight and pressed as whole bunches into a selection of new, one- and two-year-old puncheons, with no settling or fining processes. This juice was then carefully monitored, and spontaneous fermentation kicked off on day three after pressing. After a four-week ferment, the wine remained on gross lees unsulphured until July of that year. In December, the wine was emptied from barrel, settled, filtered and bottled. The final blend saw around 20% new oak.
This lovely, supple, subtle wine, while being just that, still has trademark Margaret River fruit weight and drive. Think blossom, white nectarine, purity all wrapped in a Nocturne Chardonnay mineral blanket.
