Description
Duane Coates is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian Wine Scene (Masters in Oenology and an MBA from Adelaide University & soon to become a Master of Wine). His winemaking philosophy is simple: the highest quality fruit from sustainable vineyards (some organic), harvest when properly ripe and a natural winemaking approach (minimal intervention – wild yeasts, unfined, no additions of tannin, enzyme and acid).
Huon Hooke said: “Every wine I’ve tasted of McLaren Vale’s Duane Coates has been excellent…” Highly impressive wines – a style that bridges the gap between fruit driven Australian style and savoury complex wines of old world Europe.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown, from leading international website erobertparker.com said – “..a breath of fresh air in this area where a lot of producers seem to be following the herd down that incredibly ripe and sometimes over-ripe path that has caused not a few producers to come unstuck in heat-wave and drought conditions. These are superbly-crafted, well-priced wines that are wholeheartedly recommended’.
From the winemaker: “In 2015 a decision was made to produce two distinct Chardonnay wines from the same block; an entry level wine retailing at $30 (The Chardonnay 2015) and a Reserve style with longer oak ageing, a higher proportion of new oak and two picking passes. Our fourth release, from 2018, refines the style.
The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard block in the Kuitpo region of the Adelaide Hills (where the Coates winery based). A cool climate location ensures that the grapes have an elegance of flavour and good natural acidity that we seek to preserve in the finished wine. The Reserve Chardonnay uses hand picked fruit from two harvest times; an earlier pick to maintain a taut acid backbone and minerality with a later pick to capture subtle tropical fruit and riper stone fruit characters.”
“Our winemaking style is traditional with a gentle enclosed bag pressing of the fruit with a 550/L tonne extraction. As a small winery, we have gone to the expense of purchasing our own new 3000L Puleo enclosed tank press to provide control over the pressing and oxidation of the white juice during vintage. The Chardonnay juice was natural yeast fermented with fine solids in new (66%) and second use (33%) barriques from the Dargaud & Jaegle, Nadalie and Seguin-Moreau cooperages then aged on lees without racking for sixteen months. Malo was allowed to proceed, and the wine was matured with minimal battonage. Blended and bottled unfined and unfiltered in July of 2019. The Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is a tight, structured style and will be best from 2020 and drinking well until 2030.
Mid straw in colour with a hint of green to the hue. Elegant aromas showcase citrus fruits in the company of fragrant notes of pineapple and guava; accents of spice and toast add to the complexity. The palate is in the medium-bodied in style, an initial burst of lemon and white peach flavours is followed by savoury oak and hints of brioche and shortbread. A lingering length of persistence supported by a taut acid backbone.”
RRP $44
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