2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay

"One of the prettiest vineyards in Margaret River set back behind the dune system of Ellensbrook beach. This location, and the effortless ability of Ellens Estate to grow Chardonnay fruit, produce wines that we believe are as close to perfection as you can get. This makes it a very easy decision to bottle just a handful of barrels separately and share it with fellow Chardonnay lovers round the world.

"The 2022 vintage was warmer and drier than 2021 and is viewed as typical and exceptional for Chardonnay. It has produced an elegant Single Vineyard wine of the highest quality with character distinct to only Ellens Estate.

"Ellens Estate Chardonnay is a powerful wine but with a long, linear shape on the palate that carries flavour to an extraordinary length and finishing with incredibly refreshing acidity. This strength of fruit lays the foundation for winemaking to contribute nuances of complexity through the use of wild yeast, barrel fermentation with the inclusion of cloudy juice prior to the onset of ferment, and a touch of natural MLF to add another layer of intrigue – all while showcasing and ensuring the unique fruit profile of Ellens Ridge Estate is at the forefront of the wine."

Senior Winemaker, Matt Byrne    

colour

Brilliant clarity. 

condition

Extraordinary youthful - great preservation of condition and freshness whilst achieving complexity and texture.

aroma & palate

Powerful layers of flavour and texture from the more typical and exceptional 2022 Margaret River vintage. Ripe melon, pear and juicy peach drive the wine with lovely savoury notes of fresh toast & flint, dried herbs and a malty lift from barrel fermentation on solids and extended time maturing on yeast lees in both barrel and tank.

The powerful nature of this wine is kept in check with the hallmark limey acidity and chalky taughtness which gives heightened dryness, refreshment and carry to Chardonnay wines made off Ellens Estate.

cellaring

A special drinking window in 4-6 years from vintage with the wine being able to age beyond 10 years from vintage.

vintage & vineyard

Ellens Estate is owned by Sharon and John Molloy and is located north-west of the Margaret River township in the proposed Wallcliffe winegrowing sub-region (Burnside locality). The vineyard is on the eastern edge of Caves Road and 4km from the Indian Ocean. This strong maritime influence moderates’ maximum temperatures during the summer months allowing for an extended ripening period. When these conditions combine with cool nights, (as experienced in the 2022 vintage) this allows flavour to build over an extended time period whilst preserving acidity – a rare feat that very few vineyards are able to achieve. The result is a powerful Chardonnay wine but with a long, linear shape on the palate.

The wine is made exclusively off “Block 1” – 100% Gin Gin clone on their own roots. Planted in 1996 on friable, deep Forest Gravel loam soil interspersed with pea gravel, with the vines being cane pruned each year. The Gin Gin clone consistently produces the most outstanding examples of Chardonnay wines in Margaret River with the powerful flavours and structure being balanced by refreshing natural acidity.  The entire Block slopes East with the vine rows running north > south. This ensures an even flavour profile, retains acid and minimises phenolic levels in the end wine by each side of the fruiting zone getting only a half day of exposure to the sun whilst being fully shaded during the most intense and potentially damaging midday heat.

The 2022 vintage was slightly warmer and drier than the cool 2021 vintage and is viewed as exceptional and more typical expression of Chardonnay from this vineyard. The vintage has produced powerful, full flavoured Chardonnay wines of the highest quality with character distinct to only Ellens Estate.

winemaking

A pure, hands-off approach was used in the making of this wine to allow vineyard character to sing. Once the decision was made to pick, the handpicked fruit was cooled overnight to 8C in a cool room before the cool, whole bunches were loaded into a small press. Delicate pressing followed which released the early highest quality free-run juice fraction which equated to 440L/T. The cool, cloudy juice was then transferred into barrel (228L French oak barriques from Tonnellerie Treuil exclusively used) to undergo wild fermentation. Following ferment, all barrels excluding one were topped and bunged destined for maturation. This barrel was allowed to undergo natural malolactic fermentation (MLF) to impart subtle complexity, texture and balance to the end wine (~8% v/v). The wine remained in barrel for 10 months and was stirred monthly to ensure the yeast remained in suspension at all times. Once the 12 barrels were blended into a stainless tank, it remained on yeast lees to mature for a further 7 months. Once balance and style were achieved the wine was bottled and matured further prior to release.

The above winemaking decisions were chosen to achieve complexity and house style in the final wine without sacrificing freshness or the potential for longevity – a rare achievement in Australian Chardonnay winemaking.

region

Margaret River

variety

Chardonnay  

analysis

• Alcohol: 13.5%
• pH: 3.15
• Acidity (TA): 6.66 g/L
• Vegan friendly

Grilled Tasmanian Salmon with a lemon butter sauce.

Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2024

Wine Show of Western Australia 2024

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2024

Royal Hobart Wine Show 2023

Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2023

Wine Show of Western Australia 2023

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2023