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2022 Clairault Estate Chardonnay

Blend

100% Chardonnay

Vineyard

85% Bridgeland Vineyard, Karridale
15% Ironstone Vineyard, Wilyabrup

Winemaking Note

The fruit for our Estate Chardonnay is selected from our best blocks of fruit and hand-picked. The fruit is chilled and whole-cluster pressed to retain freshness and cultivate texture and structure. The juice is settled cold and racked after 2 days, harvesting only the lightest and most delicate grape solids to further aid in textural and aromatic development. The juice is barrel fermented in a combination of old and new French oak barriques. The wine is sulphured pre-malolactic fermentation, in order to further preserve fresh fruit aromatics and pure acidity. It is then aged in oak for 9 months and battonaged every two weeks to develop texture and additional palate complexity before bottling.

Vintage Conditions

Steady winter rains between May and September 2021 filled soil profiles enough to sustain through the drier months. Budburst and shoot growth were surprisingly even in spring, albeit a little behind average dates, with wet and cloudy conditions continuing through to late November. The growing season lagged 3 weeks later than average, with veraison of chardonnay completing around mid-January. Dry, clear conditions and no rainfall over December and January sped up ripening, with early picking varieties maturing only a week later than historical average dates. The 2022 vintage resulted in whites of purity and power.

Aroma

White pear, jasmine, grapefruit and bees wax.

Palate

Pure, tense and focused. Pear flesh, zest and porcelain-like tannin drive forward a message of serenity and true fruit expression. A lattice of fine French oak, granite and grapefruit pith serve as a platform for an unyielding finish of white flowers, lemon curd and hints of gun-smoke.

Cellaring

Enjoyed for its freshness now, or cellar up to 8 years for further complexity.

Alcohol

13%

In Stock

Wine Specs

Vintage

2022

Varietal

Chardonnay

Vineyard Designation

Bridgeland Vineyard

Acid

6.69g/L

3.19

Aging

Up to 10 years, however we enjoy it for freshness now.

Fermentation

Barrel

Residual Sugar

1.25g/L

Alcohol %

13.3

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes

A pale green chardonnay with aromas of white peach flesh and mother of pearl. Lightly toasted cashews hit the nose, as do hints of wet granite and flint. The palate has a soft entry of jasmine flower, pear and citrus blossum flecked with pristine acidity and slight honeyed notes. Fine textures and pithy acidity at its core, finishing with yet more blossums, stone fruit and wet slate tones.

Vineyard Notes

Bridgeland Vineyard Sub-region of Karridale

Production Notes

The 2021 vintage began with a mild spring and sufficient rainfall. The La Niña weather system created a strong cyclone season in the north, resulting in unusual conditions throughout summer. December and January were warm and dry by comparison, and February saw large rain events and high humidity. High attention to detail was required in the vineyard to alleviate disease pressure, and those who put the extra work in, reaped the rewards. The 2021 whites have incredible flavour, with sauvignon blanc and early harvested chardonnay a standout.

Other Notes

The nature of the 2016 to 2017 vintage is reminiscent of the 2009 growing season, because the amount of accumulated warmth up until early new year was remarkably similar. January temperatures were similar to historical data for the area, in contrast, February and March were a fraction cooler. Those who risked all by waiting for the Indian Summer were rewarded with tannin ripeness and the retention of the most beautiful fruit perfumes at relatively low sugar levels. The 2017 vintage highlighted the importance of best practice vineyard management, focusing on the basics of open and well solarised canopies, with balanced crop loads, so that the fruit could ripen at a reasonable pace.