Description
BEST VALUE WINERY IN JAMES HALLIDAY’S AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2020
“The sheer quality of the wines he makes is equalled only by his consistency” James Halliday.
When I met winemaker Bruce Dukes from Domaine Naturaliste I was bowled over by how striking every wine was that I tasted in his lineup … A rare occurrence when you’re tasting wines every day.
The success did not happen by accident. He has an intimate knowledge of all the terroirs of Margaret River after spending 25 years honing his craft with leading Margaret River producers such as Pierro wines. He is a trained agronomist and has a Masters in viticulture and Oenology from U.C. Davis … he also worked for 4 years at Neibaum Coppola in Napa, USA. Bruce seeks freshness of fruit, perfume, texture, overall balance, restraint with low to moderate alcohol in all his beautiful wines. Domaine Naturaliste is named after the northern most Cape of Margaret River, Cape Naturaliste, where the winery is situated. Minuscule production of top shelf wines across the board.
From the winemaker about the 2021.. ‘A verve expression of our cool climate Chardonnay from the south of Margaret River. Chardonnay is harvested at moderate ripeness to retain freshness and natural balance. The embodiment of spring – perfume, texture, delicacy and personality.”
A dry and sun-drenched summer in 2020 led to fantastic fertility, perfectly moderated by a mild winter and a long cool spring. A hot and dry start to summer led to beautiful vine growth, followed by a cool ripening season with sporadic summer rains. The resultant wines are characterised by intense aromatics, coating natural acidity, and ultra-fine tannin and tension. Pristine Chardonnay fruit and respectful winemaking. Fermentation and maturation in mainly seasoned French oak (7 months), which adds complexity and generosity of texture without compromising the purity of aromatics or flavour. Very attractive in youth, however will mature gracefully.”
Review of 22:
91 points James Suckling “Aromas of crushed stones, lemon peel, sliced pink grapefruit and subtle ground spice. Medium-bodied with a lot of pleasant white tea character. Jasmine and leafy herbs come through. Drink now.”
RRP $32 **Our Special Price $24.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
