Invitational Margaret River Chardonnay 2023

Appearance: Pale hay with green edges

Aroma: grapefruit, green melon, cucumber skin, honeysuckle, golden delicious apple, citrus blossom, lime curd tart, meyer lemon zest, custard apple, orange blossom, white nectarine

Palate: grapefruit, lemon zest, shortbread, custard tart, flint, wet granite, powerful, mineral, juicy, ripe lemon and lime, white peach, nectarine, marzipan

A typical and cooler vintage was seen in Margaret River this year, with the vines enjoying necessary dormancy followed by enthusiastic bud burst. Minimal rains between December and March along with dry and warm conditions meant no disease pressure - an exciting start to the wines of the region. The crop was hand harvested and highly selective with sorting in vineyard, resulting in exceptionally perfect and clean fruit.  

Nestled in the hills of Margaret River lies Victory Point Vineyard, a dry grown 2000 planting of multiple clones of chardonnay on gravelly, sandy clay loams. Three clones were selected (Gingin, 76, 96), hand picked, whole bunch pressed cold and wild fermented in French oak barriques and hogheads (26% new). The wine was aged on lees for ten months with no stirring or malolactic fermentation before blending and bottling, with a further six months of bottle age before release. The resulting wine melds power and plushness with fine boned elegance and minerality, displaying the generosity and detail of the 2023 harvest.

Grilled marron with herb butter, spicy Thai papaya and prawn salad, seared brussel sprouts with toasted hazelnuts and shaved Manchego