2022 Oates Ends Chardonnay

A classic Margaret River Chardonnay with a perfect balance between varietal fruit expression and winemaking influence.  A year that has given elegance and longevity, with beautiful regional grapefruit and white stonefruit flavours.  Barrel fermentation has given vanilla toast notes and the extended time on lees has given creamy texture and complexity.  A serious wine for the Chardonnay lover.

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate. 94 points. "The 2022 summer in Perth was very hot, but thankfully the lead-in from the cool and wet winter of 2021 meant that there was sufficient groundwater to sustain the heat that occurred over December and January. As a result, the wines are powerfully driven but balanced, and we are only just starting to see these vintages come onto the market. Here, the 2022 Chardonnay is vibrant and intense, with pineapple lumps,pink grapefruit, green apple skins, white currant, juniper, saltbush and brine. The acidity is juicy and gently entrenched in the fruit—the warm nights dropped out much of the malic acidity, contributing to this very soft acid profile. Fruit power and density. Only 20% of this cuvée went through malolactic fermentation. It's very good—rich, flavorsome and open weave without being loose." Drink 2023-2037

Andrew Caillard – The Vintage Journal. 94 points. “Pale colour. Nectarine, grapefruit aromas with underlying tonic water, grilled nut, hint vanilla notes. Well concentrated and minerally with attractive pure grapefruit, white peach nectarine flavours, some tonic water notes, fine lacy bittersweet textures and fresh crisp acidity. Drink now-keep for a while.”

Ray Jordan - Ray Jordan Wine 93 points. “Beautifully framed chardonnay. There is a minerally purity about the aromas in the first instance. Peach and grapefruit with a lemony edge create an engaging start The palate displays deep fruit intensity which has been keenly handled with some nice oak treatment. Has a creamy butterscotch and lemon curd character which is neatly understated. Lovely wine.” Cellar 8 years.

Angus Hughson - Wine Pilot. 93 points. "This 2022 shows fantastic definition and has an almost Leeuwin Estate shape. Pungent grapefruit, melon, nectarine fruits, dried flower spice with a blanket of tight, fine grained oak, plus just a touch of soft nougat. Incredibly punchy up front tight core of flavour and juicy acidity with tinned peach, peach nectar flavours that are young and bright before settling into a very long but tight finish. It had hardly moved a muscle on day two which is a very promising sign for the long haul." Drink 2028-2038.

Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine "Some wines just make you stop worrying to enjoy what’s at hand, which is this lovely chardonnay. It has richness and depth, full of stone fruit and grapefruit with ginger spice and honeycomb. Plus, layering on the full palate from cashew-like lees and a general creaminess with oak playing its part yet neatly integrated. The tangy acidity keeps this even and refreshing all the way through."

WINEMAKING:

Handpicked and sorted in our Wilagri Wilyabrup vineyard, the grapes were chilled overnight and then gently whole bunch pressed. The fine, high quality free run juice was transferred directly to French oak barrels 30% of these new. Fermentation was allowed to start using the natural yeast from the vineyard, giving complex savoury notes. 20% of the barrels completed malolactic fermentation for added complexity. Following fermentation, the wine rested on lees for 10 months, before being racked, settled and filtered for bottling.

VINTAGE:

The 2022 vintage was warm and dry and will go down in history as one of the greats. Perfect ripening and a naturally small crop gave wines with incredible depth of flavour and strong varietal typicity.   

CELLARING AND SERVING:

This complex, fine textured Chardonnay will match most things, including creamy and highly seasoned dishes. Released ready to drink this wine has the structure and concentration of fruit to reward cellaring, reaching a peak around 5-8 years.