Passel Estate2019 Passel Estate Chardonnay
2019 Chardonnay
Margaret River, Western Australia
Yellow peaches and toasted cashews, voluminous fruit intensity and pristine acidity, perfectly balanced with crushed granite and flinty slate.
Description
Tasting Notes: A concentrated offering of yellow peaches, toasted cashews and cinnamon to start. The palate enters poised yet coating, boasting voluminous fruit intensity and pristine acidity and drive. A finish of sea-spray, crushed granite and slate bring balance to an otherwise rich olfactory experience. Drink now for freshness or be rewarded with cellaring.
Winemaking notes: Our Chardonnay fruit was harvested in the early hours of the morning, loaded into the press cold, and gently separated from its skins. The very slightly cloudy juice was cold settled for a day and then racked. Fermentation took place in French Oak barriques, 35% of which were new. The wine was then left to mature in barrel on its lees for 10 months, with bâttonage occurring every 2 weeks. It received a light fining prior to filtration and bottling.
Wine Details
- Region Margaret River, Western Australia
- Vintage 2019
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Volume 750ml
- Vintage Notes
A wet winter set the soils up nicely to nourish the developing vines, but continued rains and a cooler spring season led to yields being lower than is typical. A cool start to summer, continuing into and throughout the growing season meant very slow and gradual ripening, allowing for better acid retention, preservation of aromatics and overall finer tannin and texture. The whites were harvested 3 to 4 weeks later than normal, with amazing fruit purity and floral notes. Despite mid-season rains, the reds were still able to hang well into April, with a relatively dry finish resulting in ripe but very fine tannin. Low yields mean that the 2019 vintage in Margaret River is one to be treasured, characterised by aromatic, fine wines of exceptional length.
- Vineyard Notes
Our Chardonnay vines are planted north-south, thus benefitting from even sunlight and warmth on either side of the canopy throughout the growing season. Meticulous canopy management with multiple passes to arrange and manipulate shoots and leaves, helps achieve our ultimate goal of dappled light, yielding the perfect balance of intense fruit flavours; fine texture; and structural natural acidity. The fruit is then covered with bird netting through to harvest.
- Winemaking
Our Chardonnay fruit was harvested in the early hours of the morning, loaded into the press cold, and gently separated from its skins. The very slightly cloudy juice was cold settled for a day and then racked. Fermentation took place in French Oak barriques, 35% of which were new. Approximately 33% of the barrels were allowed to undergo Malolactic fermentation to aid in softening acidity and to introduce an additional textural component. The wine was then left to mature in barrel on its lees for 10 months, with bâttonage occurring every 2 weeks. It received a light fining prior to filtration and bottling.
- Tasting Notes
A concentrated offering of yellow peaches, toasted cashews and cinnamon to start. The palate enters poised yet coating, boasting voluminous fruit intensity and pristine acidity and drive. A finish of sea-spray, crushed granite and slate bring balance to an otherwise rich olfactory experience. Drink now for freshness or be rewarded with cellaring.