Flametree Chardonnay 2019

‘astonishingly good value.’
95 Points & 5 Stars Huon Hooke

95 Points & Special Value Wine Erin Larkin

The 2019 Flametree Chardonnay is a blend from four vineyards; two from the Wallcliffe sub- region, one from Karridale and one from Treeton. The Wallcliffe and Karridale parcels were from vineyards planted with cuttings from the famous Leeuwin Estate Block 20, This represents around 80% of the total blend. The remaining parcel was the highly acclaimed Gin Gin clone. We chose to work with Chardonnay vineyards planted on well drained gravel loam soils on southerly facing hills that avoid the harsh afternoon heat. Fruit was both hand picked (35%) and machine harvested (65%).

A mixture of clean and turbid juice was wild fermented in French oak puncheons (69%) and barriques (31%) using only free run juice. Ferment temperatures were around 18-25 degrees to promote and retain more primary fruit flavours. 25% of the wine was fermented in new oak, with the remainder fermented in second, third and fourth use French oak. This year we put 15% of the blend through MLF and stirred the lees every 4-6 weeks. A small percentage of the blend was whole berry fermented to provide a nice savoury complexity. The 2019 Chardonnay spent 9 months in barrel before blending, fining and bottling.

“Fruit from 5 vineyards: Warner Glen, Eddinger Estate (block 4), Chapman Grove and Redgate in the south and Cullen (Treeton) in the north. Natural acid, 15% mlf, lees stirred every 3-4 weeks, 9 months in oak. Compelling struck-match nose. Silky, viscose palate- rounded almost, shaped by phenolic edge and grip. Flinty and mineral, but with hallmark yellow peach, pink grapefruit and curry leaf. Rounding out in a tight back palate and defined by saline acid. Tremendous value at the price!’ – 95 Points & Special Value Wine Erin Larkin

“Very light colour; bright yellow, while the bouquet is reserved and subtle, but not simplistic. Fresh, clean, lightly smoky aromas. The wine is light to medium-bodied and balanced, cleanly dry to finish and very pleasant in a medium-bodied, but quite intense style. Traces of passionfruit and grapefruit. A lovely wine, both intense and refined. And astonishingly good value.” – 95 Points & 5 Stars Huon Hooke