Burnside Vineyard Chardonnay

Chardonnay Burnside 2020

Harvest Report
We were blessed with near perfect growing conditions in Margaret River in 2020. A warmer than usual spring, a dry and sunny summer and cool nights. Significant diurnal temperature variations ensured perfect ripening conditions in all our dryland vineyards. With no disease and virtually no bird pressure (especially at the beginning of harvest), we were able to harvest beautifully clean fruit at ideal ripeness and flavour levels... A real gift to our winemaking team. The only downside was the exceptionally low yields across all varieties. Our dry-farmed vineyard responded to the drier seasonal conditions by producing small, light bunches with small berries. As a result, the fruit has incredible concentration and has retained a lovely natural acidity.

Winemaking
Harvested by hand, whole cluster pressing and direct transfer to oak with complete solids. Fermented by indigenous yeasts in barrel (approximately 30% new). After fermentation, the barrels are left to cool, but without sulphur for 4 months to encourage autolytic activity. Batonnage every two weeks based on flavour and partial MLF to balance the high natural acidity of this vintage. The wine was racked with full lees to tank in December and spent two months on lees in tank before bottling in February 2021.

Vineyard
100% Burnside Vineyard. Situated on the bend of the Margaret River, this ancient vineyard grows on unique micaceous and granitic soils. The rows of chardonnay face steeply north in a northwest-southeast direction.

District of Origin
100% Margaret River

Grapes
100% Single Vineyard Chardonnay : Clone Gingin