Flametree Chardonnay 2023

Description

Flametree Wines has had a meteoric rise to become one of the star wineries of the Margaret River wine region. Under the skilled winemaking of Cliff Royle (ex-Voyager Estate) the quality of wines are impressive across the board.

James Halliday … “Flametree, owned by the Towner family (John, Liz, Rob and Annie), has had extraordinary success since its first vintage in 2007. The usual practice of planting a vineyard and then finding someone to make the wine was turned on its head: a state-of-the-art winery was built, and grape purchase agreements signed with growers in the region. Show success was topped by the winning of the Jimmy Watson Trophy with its 2007 Cabernet Merlot. If all this were not enough, Flametree secured the services of winemaker Cliff Royle.”

About this wine from the winery: “The Flametree Chardonnay is a blend from five vineyards, two from the Wallcliffe sub-region, two from Karridale and one from Treeton. The Wallcliffe and Karridale parcels were from vineyards planted with cuttings from the famous Leeuwin Estate Block 20, This represents around 70% of the total blend. The remaining parcel was the highly acclaimed Gin Gin clone. We chose to work with Chardonnay vineyards planted on well drained gravel loam soils on southerly facing hills that avoid the harsh afternoon heat. Fruit was both hand picked (20%) and machine harvested (80%).

“A mixture of clean and turbid juice was 100% wild fermented in French oak puncheons (60%) and barriques (40%) using only free run juice. Ferment temperatures were around 18-25 degrees to promote and retain primary fruit flavours. 25% of the wine was fermented in new oak, with the remainder fermented in second, third and fourth use French oak. This year none of the blend went through MLF, lees were stirred every 3-4 weeks. A small percentage of the blend was whole berry fermented to provide nice savoury solids complexity. The Chardonnay spent 9 months in barrel before blending, fining and bottling.

“Citrus oil, floral notes, dried pear and grapefruit aromas are well supported by subtle French oak. The palate is textured yet fine, finishing dry and savoury; this is a direct result of wild ferments with turbid juices. Although the warmer season has resulted in a more full flavoured wine with more stone fruits characters than citrus, this is a classic warmer season Margaret River Chardonnay that drinks well now or can be cellared in the short to medium term.”

“It’s astonishing that Flametree’s Cliff Royle can turn out such beautiful chardonnay at the price..”  Huon Hooke, The Real Review

Gold medal and 95 points, The International Wine and Spirits Competition “Intoxicating white grapefruit and pithy lemon aromas lead to a light and elegant crystalline palate of mango skin and yellow guava. A genteel, persistent creamy lemon finish.”

93 points, Jane Faulkner , Australian Wine Companion: ‘It starts off a little edgy, nervy even, with piercing acidity even if there’s plenty of flavour within. Expect white stone fruit, citrus and tang, spicy oak and a layering of lees adding texture. This needs more time to settle or, if you can’t wait to crack this open, the right food as a partner.”

RRP $34  Our Price $26.99

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