2010 Estate Chardonnay

The 2010 Juniper Estate Chardonnay is intended to be reflective of our two vineyards, & we have attempted to rein in the richness of the Wilyabrup fruit component by blending Chardonnay from our southern vineyard in Forest Grove, which has more finesse and restraint. We have used barrel ferment, lees contact, bâtonnage & malo-lactic fermentation, but each of these variables has been carefully controlled & monitored so as to gently add interest without bludgeoning the fruit expression. An array of fruit & barrel ferment characters give an instant invitation to this complex result of two great vineyards. The richness of Wilyabrup is interwoven with the finesse of the Higher Plane vineyard in Forest Grove, south of Margaret River. The palate is restrained & suggests white nectarine & just ripe buerre bosc pears with long, lingering flavours resulting from a subtle combination of lees-stirring, partial malolactic ferment & fine oak spice.