Chardonnay
2021 Chardonnay
The vintage of 2021 was surprisingly one of lush grass. Significant rainfall events at the start of each month in summer meant that the vines never stressed fully, and this was very important to these young, grafted vines as they were able to fully express themselves and not shut down to preserve energy for their own growth requirements. The fruit was hand picked early on 26 February netting us 1.5t of fruit that then went into a combination of new and old French oak under the watchful eye of our wine maker Clive Otto. Clive’s treatment of our grapes was very much hands’ off and let it evolve in barrel with no artifice or manipulation (or even malolactic fermentation). So, as we went through the final trials and last checks, we just let the wine shine, minimal handling and minimal influence.
This is a wonderful bottle of Chardonnay – growing on from the 2020 version as the new oak gives it more breadth and subtle influences to match in with the intense fruit flavours. From the point of bottling to now it has continued to grow, with even more richness to balance out the line and length that drives every Blue Poles wine.
Sealed under screwcap to ensure the wine made by us arrives to you as we intended it to.
Reviews
Wine Companion, Ned Goodwin - January 2023
"A lean style that finds shape and fluidity in the glass. Smart oak, and no obvious primary fruit, which I enjoy. It’s more about bones, sinew, glazed quince and a creamy core of nougatine. A broad spread across the palate and a long drive down the gullet. Latent and unassuming now, but time will draw this out."
Score: 94 points
Gary Walsh (WineFront)– January 2022 (Review Here - Subscription Required )
“White peach, lemon peel and green olive, a little nougat and spice. It’s a delicate thing, firm in acidity, quite light in flavour, but feels pure and clean, maybe even a little invigorating. There’s lemon barley and watermelon rind, and a tight finish of moderate length, a subtle nougat gloss in the aftertaste. Feels like it’s been picked for tension and shape, over flavour, though that’s no bad thing. I like this style, though others may find it a little lean. It’ll be better with about another year or so in bottle, I’d say.”
Score: 92 points
Technical Details
Picked 26 February 2021
Total weight 1.53t
Baume 12.2
pH 3.2
TA 7.6
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2020 Chardonnay
It was a feeling of great relief when we picked this first crop of Chardonnay on 24 February 2020 in what was a very warm and early vintage for the region. Sugars were low, but the acid profile was lovely, and the flavours were rich and insistent. No new oak could be assigned (young vines + new oak = disconnect), but we had the next best thing – three 1yo barrels from Leeuwin Estate’s famous Art Series Chardonnay were topped up and a wild ferment went through to completion and then rested for 9 months. Initial tasting from the barrels caused a frizzle of excitement as it was damn good, and then finally tasting the bottled wine was damn near overwhelming.
As you would be aware from the latest Monthly Report, Clive Otto is our wine maker and he has a bit of a magic touch when it comes to all things Chardonnay. Very much in tune with the variety and how to ensure the best “version” of the grapes received is presented in the bottle, his treatment of our grapes was very much hands off and let it evolve in barrel with no artifice or manipulation (or even malolactic fermentation). So, as we went through the final trials and last checks, we just let the wine shine, minimal handling and minimal influence.
And I am so glad we did. This is a pure unadulterated joyful bottle of Chardonnay. From the point of bottling to now it has blossomed, with more richness to balance out the line and length that drives every Blue Poles wine.
So, what does it taste like? Every bit of a delicious Margaret River Chardonnay that you would expect, with that Blue Poles kink that provides the complexity and capacity to age that we love so much in our vines/wines. As a tasting note from the latest glass had last night, I noted the following:
“Delicious lift of stone fruits and a hint of citrus zing (not too cold please)… almost a touch of lime zest… and as it opens more here comes the notes that peek from behind the fresh nectarine. Nutmeg, ginger (fresh and slight), fresh hay – those dry remnants left in the heat of the day after the baler has gone through, deep earthy background – and juicy pear.
The first sip is providing the bass line of our nectarine groove (is that apricot winking at me?), with that line moving into a long, tasty length and as you mull you note the wine growing and flexing. Second followed by the third sip gives you those hidden gems of notes, with a herbal lick of chives passing through the periphery. Hard not to love. Hard to not keep seeking the fleeting in the glass by nose and by palate. Drink it, age it – you’re going to enjoy it.”
Sealed under screwcap to ensure the wine made by us arrives to you as we intended it to.
Reviews
Gary Walsh (WineFront)– March 2021 (Review Here - Subscription Required )
“Tart tropical fruit, ginger, dusty and peppery. Bright, fresh, a bit tangy and spicy, dusty texture, lemon barley, light and frisky, a bit of crunch, green herbs, and a pepper and sliced ginger finish of solid length. Strange thing to say, but this would be ideal with sashimi and the like.”
Score: 91 points
Technical Details
Picked 24 February 2020
Total weight 1.21t
Baume 12.6
pH 3.36
TA 7.37
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