Wine Article
2017 Xanadu Chardonnay Reserve Margaret River
Last edited on 5/25/2020 by LindsayM
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VARIETY: Chardonnay 100%
REGION: Margaret River WA
TECHNICAL:Alc.: 13.0% v/v TA: 8.6g/L
Free SO2: 38ppm pH: 3.15
Residual Sugar: 1.7g/L VA: 0.41 g/L
Total SO2: 115ppm
COLOUR: Pale Straw
B O U Q U E T :
The bouquet of this elegant yet powerful Chardonnay offers pristine fruit aromas of fresh pears, citrus and white fleshed nectarines with underlying hints of oatmeal, nougat and flint.
Palate :
The palate is medium bodied and focused with a nervy acidity. The wine offers pear puree and white fleshed stone fruits with a pithy grapefruit edge adding structure. The intensity of tightly coiled fruit is complemented with a creamy ‘al dente’ textual mouthfeel derived from lees stirring, and a lovely saline/ oyster-shell character. A vibrant yet highly complex wine, with all the elements culminating to a crisp lingering fruit finish.
CELLARING POTENTIAL:
An elegant Chardonnay displaying classic Margaret River intensity – the 2017 Reserve will most certainly reward with careful cellaring.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The growing season began with late budburst after a relatively cold, wet winter. The mild spring which followed ensured that there was good flowering and fruit set, in fact some yields needed to be addressed with crop thinning. Fine, mild conditions prevailed during summer, which ended up being one of the coolest growing seasons in recent years. Harvest commenced late, at the end of February, with abundant Marri blossom keeping bird pressure very low whilst the whites were harvested. March was relatively wet with a significant rain event after most of the white fruit had been picked. Fortunately, the April that followed was glorious (the driest April since 1982 in fact) with fine weather and no heat extremes experienced at all. The extended ripening period allowing the reds to attain full physiological maturity and tannin ripeness with a wonderful sense of finesse.
100% of the fruit for this Reserve Chardonnay is from our oldest Chardonnay vineyard, the Lagan Estate. The low yielding vineyard produces bunches with characteristic ‘hen and chicken’ architecture typical of the Gingin clone. We encourage natural fermentation on fruit from this vineyard to further emphasize the personality of this wonderful site which is directly adjacent to the winery.
WINEMAKING
All of the fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed followed by 100% barrel fermentation in select French oak (approx. 30% new oak). Fermentation was allowed to occur naturally, with the wild yeasts responsible for the fermentation introducing more complexity and personality into the wine. Barrels were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation. Only the best barrels were selected for the final blend In November 2017
REGION: Margaret River WA
TECHNICAL:Alc.: 13.0% v/v TA: 8.6g/L
Free SO2: 38ppm pH: 3.15
Residual Sugar: 1.7g/L VA: 0.41 g/L
Total SO2: 115ppm
COLOUR: Pale Straw
B O U Q U E T :
The bouquet of this elegant yet powerful Chardonnay offers pristine fruit aromas of fresh pears, citrus and white fleshed nectarines with underlying hints of oatmeal, nougat and flint.
Palate :
The palate is medium bodied and focused with a nervy acidity. The wine offers pear puree and white fleshed stone fruits with a pithy grapefruit edge adding structure. The intensity of tightly coiled fruit is complemented with a creamy ‘al dente’ textual mouthfeel derived from lees stirring, and a lovely saline/ oyster-shell character. A vibrant yet highly complex wine, with all the elements culminating to a crisp lingering fruit finish.
CELLARING POTENTIAL:
An elegant Chardonnay displaying classic Margaret River intensity – the 2017 Reserve will most certainly reward with careful cellaring.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The growing season began with late budburst after a relatively cold, wet winter. The mild spring which followed ensured that there was good flowering and fruit set, in fact some yields needed to be addressed with crop thinning. Fine, mild conditions prevailed during summer, which ended up being one of the coolest growing seasons in recent years. Harvest commenced late, at the end of February, with abundant Marri blossom keeping bird pressure very low whilst the whites were harvested. March was relatively wet with a significant rain event after most of the white fruit had been picked. Fortunately, the April that followed was glorious (the driest April since 1982 in fact) with fine weather and no heat extremes experienced at all. The extended ripening period allowing the reds to attain full physiological maturity and tannin ripeness with a wonderful sense of finesse.
100% of the fruit for this Reserve Chardonnay is from our oldest Chardonnay vineyard, the Lagan Estate. The low yielding vineyard produces bunches with characteristic ‘hen and chicken’ architecture typical of the Gingin clone. We encourage natural fermentation on fruit from this vineyard to further emphasize the personality of this wonderful site which is directly adjacent to the winery.
WINEMAKING
All of the fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed followed by 100% barrel fermentation in select French oak (approx. 30% new oak). Fermentation was allowed to occur naturally, with the wild yeasts responsible for the fermentation introducing more complexity and personality into the wine. Barrels were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation. Only the best barrels were selected for the final blend In November 2017