2021 Reserve Chardonnay

The wine exhibits ripe blackcurrant fruit with earthy graphite mineral overtones, cradled by exceptionally fine tannins and integrated French oak. A distinct mineral complexity is derived from the rocky granitic soils of the Leeuwin Ridge.

96 points, Ray Jordan
95 points, The Wine Front
Gold, 2022 Perth Royal Wine Show

A cool, mild spring in 2020 led to a slightly later white vintage with moderate cropping levels across all white varieties. As harvest approached in February the region experienced significant rainfall and humidity which resulted in increased canopy management and disease monitoring. Many vineyards had to drop botrytis affected bunches to ensure that the fruit arrived at the winery in pristine condition. With its proximity to the coast Grace Farm avoided these complications. The season produced chardonnay with exceptional fruit notes combined with low baumes and balanced natural acidity.

The chardonnay grapes were hand harvested in the cool of morning on 19 February 2021 and chilled to 10 degrees Celsius overnight.

The whole bunches were then gently pressed directly into a combination of 40% new and 60% second fill French oak barriques.

The juice underwent wild fermentation in barrel. It continued to mature in barrel for a further 10 months, prior to being racked out of barrel, blended, filtered and bottled in November 2021.

Winemaker: Jonathan Mettam
Viticulturist: Tim Quinlan

Alc: 13.0%
pH: 3.27
TA: 8.1g/L