Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay 2020

97 Points & Special Value Wine Erin Larkin
97 Points Ray Jordan

Sourced from Block 2 of the Stevens Road vineyard, 3km down the road from the Xanadu winery in the Wallcliffe subregion, this wine offers a unique expression of the outstanding quality wine this special little vineyard is capable of producing. Producing some of their best Chardonnay, the pedigree of the Stevens Road vineyard deserves recognition in its own right and is bottled as this single vineyard wine.

Made entirely from Gingin clone Chardonnay which was whole bunch pressed followed by 100%-barrel fermentation in select French oak (25% new oak). Wild fermentation was encouraged on all of the components, in order to introduce more complexity and personality into the wine. All of the individual batches which make up the blend were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation. The final blend was put together in November 2020.

“Technical side first. The chardonnay from this small vineyard was handpicked and then whole bunch pressed to French oak barriques, of which 27% were new, for wild fermentation. The barrels were stirred regularly over nine months but consistent with Glenn Goodall’s approach the wines did not go through malolactic fermentation. This was one of the coolest and smallest Margaret River vintages. But it was also one of the best in terms of quality. There is tremendous power ad palate intensity here with a chalky salted caramel-like palate lifted with a bright minerally acidity. Has a chalky mouth feel with a dry savoury finish. Outstanding wine.” – 97 Points Ray Jordan

“This wine is pristine, and routinely defined by acid on release. It is soft, pithy and lush (that acid), and it is met by white peach and nectarine, red apple and lime flesh. Brine, cheesecloth and little pockets of pop-rock vibrancy. This is a beautiful wine, but it is even better with some age. The temptation to drink them young however, is overwhelming.” – 97 Points & Special Value Wine Erin Larkin for Halliday’s Wine Companion