2020 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Chardonnay

A poised, refined, and powerful expression of southern Margaret River Chardonnay. Evocative notes of honeysuckle, pear essence, citrus blossom, fig, vanilla pod, lemon zest, nougat, minerals, flint, bread dough, and stone fruits are all present. The palate is full of supple ripe fruits, seamlessly cradled in refined oak flavours and textures. A subtle caramel and creamy nutmeal complexity acquired from lengthy oak maturation and complete malolactic add further dimension. The finish is chalky and citric, giving palate tautness, definition, length, and balance. A wine destined for graceful aging.

The tenth crop from our home vineyard in Forest Grove. This 0.5 ha was planted in 2004, 1 year after buying the property. A subsequent 1.75 ha of vines was planted in 2008. Our vineyard backs in to the Boranup National Park, and is on a gravelly rise looking west to the Leeuwin Naturalist Limestone Ridge.

Amongst the turmoil and uncertainty of 2020, vintage in Margaret River was, fortunately, free of the usual natural challenges. Other than a hailstorm in later October, which dropped yields well below average, a warm and dry Summer, little disease pressure, and a proliferation of flowering in the native Marri delivered a perfect start. Rain in late February slowed the red harvest's beginning, cooled the season prematurely and protracted the harvest period.

The result is white wines with a refined structure and pure fruit characters, while the reds show great intensity, a gentle fruit note and supple, fine tannins.

Hand-harvested then whole fruit pressed to gently extract the finest and freshest juice for fermentation in French oak barriques, 50% new and 50% once used. The malolactic completes over 18 months of maturation in oak, and the occasional stirring of the yeast lees builds texture and refreshes the wine during this period. This extended barrel residence also facilitates the integration of wine and oak. After selecting the best few barrels that constitute the Queen, the wine is minimally fined, filtered, and gravity filled to bottle. A further rest in the bottle before release gives the wine time to soften and evolve its unique expression. Bottled September 2022 under screwcap.