2021 Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay

PRE-RELEASE (limited allocation available)

Please note that we have a very limited allocation of this pre-release available. 

winemaker's note

This wine achieves the difficult balance of providing a wonderfully complex Chardonnay drinking experience without sacrificing fruit freshness and vitality. As a result, this expertly made wine will be just as rewarding to lay down as its red counterparts. It will very slowly develop more subtle complexities and character for years to come while ensuring fruit and hence regional character is the focal point of the Redbrook Reserve style.

colour

Light straw with a vibrant green rim. Incredible youthful condition for its vintage

aroma

The wine shows malt, fresh toast and struck match complexity from wild barrel fermentation.

palate

The palate is seamless and delicate nature coupled with copious layers of flavour that persist long after the wine is gone

cellaring

Although beautiful now, will continue to develop complexity for at least ten years from vintage. 

vintage

Following a cool 2019 vintage, the 2020 vintage in Margaret River returned to a warmer one similar to that experienced in 2018. This has produced exceptional quality wines across a large range of varieties and styles.

The season started with early and strong budburst due to warmer soil conditions produced from the drier and warmer than average 2019 winter. This continued into Spring with near perfect conditions experienced during the flowering period (very dry, low RH and minimal wind) which further elevated the potential quality of the vintage.

A very dry 4 months with low humidity during the critical ripening period (Jan to Apr 2020) has produced deep, concentrated flavours and highlighted the importance of managing the vine canopies according to the variety and desired wine style.

For our Chardonnay vines, we ensured the fruit was adequately shaded by leaf to protect it from the most intense UV period of the day to ensure acidity was preserved and delicacy and balance was achieved in the end wine. The result is seen in the bottle, with our Chardonnay wines from the 2020 vintage showing extraordinary power whilst retaining refreshing natural acidity and harmonious balance.

winemaking

Handpicked into 10kg tubs which were then cooled for 12 hours to ensure the fruit was 8-10C before being pressed. The cold whole bunches of Chardonnay were then tipped into the press which then squeezed the juice out by the use of an airbag inflating to low pressures – this is the most gentle way to extract the juice and is a prerequisite to making world class Chardonnay wine. The juice was allowed a limited amount of controlled oxidation with the turbid juice then going straight into barrel – 100% French oak puncheons (500L) used with 18% being new and the balance 1yr old. All barrels wild fermented on solids to dryness before a small amount of SO2 was added, and the wine chilled and barrels topped and bunged. No MLF was allowed. Battonage was undertaken on each new barrel every 4 weeks and on the 1yr barrels every 8 weeks. Barrel maturation was conducted at 15C for 10 months followed by a further 8 months on yeast lees in tank before 1yr bottle maturation.

region

Margaret River

variety

Chardonnay  

analysis

• Alcohol: 13.5%
• pH: 3.02
• TA 8.48 g/L

Fried lemon and almond coated King George Whiting with crab salad.

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2024

perth royal wine awards 2023

Best Wine of Show
Best White Table Wine
Best Western Australian Table Wine
Best Western Australian White Table Wine
Best Chardonnay

perth royal wine awards 2022

Best White Table Wine
Best Western Australian White Table Wine
Best Chardonnay

Margaret River Wine Show 2023

Halliday Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge 2022

Royal Sydney Wine Awards 2022

Royal Hobart Wine Show 2022

Royal Hobart Wine Show 2021

National Wine Show of Australia 2021

Margaret River Wine Show 2021

Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2022

Wine Show of Western Australia 2021

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2024

96

Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2024

A wine that bridges that divide between power and elegance, delivering a wonderfully precise and finely focused wine. On the nose a trace of wild ferment struck match releases. The palate then takes charge with a fine chalky edge against a backdrop of grapefruit and cashew with a lift of pear. Has a crunchy saline character to finish. As good as any from E&T.

97

Halliday Wine Companion 2025

A wine that ebbs and flows; one minute, lots of flavour, all citrus, spice and stone fruit, then the next, pared back, revealing a tight acid backbone and a slip of creamy lees. Then again, flinty, fine, and next, a shot of oak, superbly integrated. Everything comes together; the result is a rather stunning chardonnay.

96