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.
About this wine and vintage from the winemaker: ‘A verve expression of our cool climate Chardonnay from the pristine 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 moderate and sunny 2023 Vintage set the vines up with fertile buds and good stocks of carbohydrate for Vintage 2024. Spring was warm and dry, allowing for uniform and rapid budburst and perfect conditions for flowering. Lower than average soil moisture and higher than average temperatures through late spring and early summer allowed for smaller berries with better spacing on the bunch, setting the stage for a concentrated and intensely flavoured crop. The continued higher than average temperatures led to an early vintage, with white varieties characterised by scintillating levels of natural acidity and immense fruit power and purity.“
Pristine Chardonnay fruit and respectful winemaking. Fermentation and maturation in mainly seasoned French oak, which adds complexity and generosity of texture without compromising the purity of aromatics or flavor. Seven months in French oak sur lie. Very attractive in youth, however will mature gracefully.
Newly released! Review of 2023 .. 92 points, Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front “Seemingly the composition is simple but executed perfectly. Purity of fruit, citrus led nose with swirls of yoghurt and lemon curd underneath. Smells of freshness, white flowers, crisp acidity, zesty flavours. Perky and very refreshing. Fun and easy but very classy. Needless to say, it’s a great value Chardonnay.”
“The Discovery range is always good value and ticks the varietal box well. This has a nice layer of white stone fruit and citrus, followed by some beeswax and sawdusty oak with refreshing acidity to close. Not complex, as it’s an unashamedly a fruit-driven style to be enjoyed in its youth.” 90 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
RRP $32 **Our Special Price $24.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
