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  • Cape Mentelle 331 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River, WA 6285

    • We acknowledge the Wadandi Boodja (Saltwater People’s Country) as the traditional custodians of the lands where we now grow and produce our stunning wines. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and commit to continued listening to and learning from First Nations’ voices.

2023 Heritage Chardonnay

2023 Heritage Chardonnay
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$150.00
/ Bottle
SKU: CH2023H 1103955
"A true translation of our plots with power yet elegance, finely detailed like Haute-Couture!"

In Margaret River, considered one of Australia’s premium chardonnay growing regions, Cape Mentelle creates wines of plush texture, depth and power, yet balanced with a fine frame of acidity. This Reserve Chardonnay reflects Chapman Brook and Crossroads, our two southern Margaret River vineyards. Both sites have wonderful expressive personalities that complement each other beautifully and represent a combination of both our past and present. From careful site selection many years ago through to refined and innovative viticulture and winemaking practices today. Bringing them together is a joy, creating one of the finest expressions of our unique terroir.

Appearance
Bright white.
Nose
Confidence and class coming through with white flowers, white pepper and sea salt, evolving into ultra-fine pastry apple tart and bitter almond extract.
Palate
Poise and precision on the palate, it is dynamic, delicate and vibrant all at once. Many intriguing layers of complexity with citrus blossom, candied lemon, macadamia nut and yellow grapefruit all intricately balanced with the mineral aspects of wet stone and gun flint. Beautiful grip from the crunchy phenolics hold the backbone of this seamless wine.
Blend
100% chardonnay
Cellaring
15 years
Food Pairing Notes
Roast Dhufish fillet with lemon cream sauce. Pappardelle with mixed wild mushrooms. Salmon Gravlax with dill and sea salt.
Show Technical Notes and Reviews
The Vineyard
Chardonnay is grown on our two southern vineyards, about 15 minutes south of the Margaret River township. The two sites differ greatly in terms of aspect, soil profile, temperature extremes and rainfall. These conditions result in a variation of fruit profile which highlights the vineyard site, our region and the seasonal conditions each year. During the season our focus is to ensure good canopy growth while allowing air flow and sunlight in. This naturally reduces disease risk and encourages good fruit set in early summer. The majority of our chardonnay blocks are hand harvested in the cooler early morning conditions. Our aim is to produce fruit that showcases a great expression of site, with bright natural acidity, depth of flavour and purity of fruit. The 2023 season started with a mild spring leading into a dry and calm summer. Grapevine ripening continued steadily throughout, with harvest commencing mid-February. Overall, we experienced another beautiful Margaret River growing season.
Winemaking
Hand-picked with “one plot one batch” approach, the chardonnay fruit was cooled over night before being whole bunch pressed and the juice was transferred to barrel, with all the solids, for wild fermentation. The French oak selection focused on enhancing the fruit personalities of each plot, with 43% of the barriques being new. The wines were left unsulphured for several weeks post-ferment and matured on lees for 10 months, with a stirring regime monitored by tasting to build texture and refine structure. Individual barrels were selected from the best batches to produce a blend representing the finest expression of the season, in a way that allows each individual block to shine.
Analysis
13.4% alcohol 8.29 g/l total acidity 3.08 pH Suitable for vegans

The Real Review

Huon Hooke
96

Light-medium colour in the glass; almond-meal and wheaty aromas arise with traces of buttery croissant, crusty bread and these are translated to the palate which is bright and fresh, intense and lively, with sustained intensity that drives very long through the finish. A superb chardonnay with a big future. 

Wine Pilot

Ken Gargett
97

The vineyards supplying the fruit for this stunning Margaret River Chardonnay are the Crossroads and Chapman Brook vineyards, located in the south of the region. This really is a bit special and sits comfortably with the top offerings from here. Or indeed, anywhere in Australia. 100% Gin Gin clone, after a wild ferment, the final wine was a barrel selection following ten months maturation in French oak, 43% of which was new. 
A lemon straw hue, there is serious intensity here. There are notes of lemon curd, oystershell notes, peaches, tropical characters, florals, some flint and a minerally backing. The oak is so well integrated that it is merely one more aspect of this brilliant Chardy and part of a seamless overall impression. There is a juicy palate, where the flavours simply explode into life, this is complex, concentrated, offering serious length and endless flavours. Love it. A wine which will provide enormous pleasure for the next ten to twelve years. 

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