2018 Museum Chardonnay

This Chardonnay was hand-picked at optimum ripeness and gently whole-bunch pressed into French oak barriques, where indigenous yeasts completed the fermentation to dryness. Complex lifted aromas of lemon, flint and custard apple emanate and entice to reveal a palate of exceptional fruit weight and precise mineral acidity.

2018 is being hailed as one of the best ever Margaret River
vintages. The season benefited greatly from penetrating rains across the region in December 2017. This produced excellent canopy growth in all varieties at Grace Farm. Coupled with excellent flowering and fruit set in October to November, it ensured fantastic fruit and healthy yields throughout the vineyard. The cool January to February summer period experienced in the region, without 30+ degree days, enabled a steady ripening period without heat spikes. This weather produced an outstanding white vintage with slowly ripened fruit and great natural acidity. When weather doesn’t take front of stage, as was the case in 2017, it allows one to pick with precise timing to optimise flavour, acidity and skin tannins.

The Chardonnay grapes were hand harvested in the cool of morning on 19 February 2018 and chilled to 5 degrees Celsius in a chiller room overnight.