Walsh & Sons Burnside Chardonnay 2023

Description

Walsh and Sons is about little wines with big personalities. By using biodynamic methods in their vineyard and natural winemaking techniques they aim to make lighter styles that are fun, youthful and different to the mainstream.
“We believe that it’s our differences that set us apart and so we choose to enhance these in our wines rather than suppress them. You won’t find clean edges and tarted up tastes more like a grubby sand pit or a snotty nose. 
“Our philosophies are developed through transcending the tangible senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Our winemaking relies very much on the non-­tangible senses of inspiration, intuition and innovation. But using these we seek out a more informed expression of who we are whilst respecting the purity of our natural ingredients.” Winemakers, Ryan and Freya.
Ryan Walsh and Freya Hohnen have been involved in winemaking at the vineyard and winery level since their childhoods (Freya is the daughter of David Hohnen, one of the founders of Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay) Both have travelled the globe to further their knowledge in places such as France, USA, Spain and Switzerland. But their home will always be in Margaret River, WA …. “In the grand scale of things we believe Margaret River is still youthful in its wine age. We believe in technique over technology so our wines retain their raw personalities.”
“Much is yet to be discovered in style and soils and so we make wines from grapes and label them on localities as opposed to the generalised sub regions. Most of our fruit comes from family owned entities in the location of Burnside and Osmington but we do dabble outside the boundaries with friends. 
“Our immediate family, consisting of our two sons Roi and Hamish, are what we enjoy the most. We’re a little worn of seeing older generations named on bottles when so much lies with our youth. Our core wines are mirrored on personalities of our younger extended family. They sometimes push the boundaries.”  Winemakers, Ryan and Freya.

“We have Chardonnay because it grows well, has intensity in all elements and we love to drink it. The fact it went in the ground during our childhood builds for us an assoication with its existence and a compelling urge to emulate the Burnside sites’ full potential. Chardonnay is a chamelion variety that finds balance in any wine style. Making it is always effortless yet challenging in the same stroke.” 

“The Burnside Vineyard is unique in its aspect, soil and age – one of the great sites in the country. The vineyard sits on the banks of the Margaret River with unique micaceous black soil. Located 1.7km from the coast, a stones throw from the family home. Planted in 1981 by Freya’s father, David Hohnen. The rows lean into the river, on a steep northern aspect, running north-west to south-east. Burnside Vineyard is certified biodynamic.

“Hand-picked and pressed straight to barrel. Natural fermentation. French barriques, 30% new the remainder 3-year-old. No stirring, just topping and tasting on a fortnightly basis. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation late Autumn, early Spring offering a natural cover of CO2 during maturation. The wine remains undisturbed with some sulphur added just prior to a January bottling. We blended off the bench from barrel before bottling a week later. The wine is unfined and unfiltered, it may present some harmless deposits in the bottle.

“We love Chardonnay. Chardonnay loves to grow in the Margaret River region. Acute attention to detail and minimal intervention gives a wine that speaks of this region.

“Lemon hued, with heady aromas of white peach, nectarine, curry leaf and oyster shell. The seaside vibes continue on the palate, where the tangy fruit and bright acidity harmonize with a slippery texture and ocean spray saltiness.” Winemaker notes.

The 2023 is a fine expression of barrel fermented chardonnay from this fine site with tremendous fruit intensity, layer upon layer, depth and wonderful finesse on mouthwatering thread of acidity. Treat yourself here.

94 pts Gary Walsh, Wine Front “Here’s an offbeat, but interesting style of Chardonnay. It’s kind of cloudy, distinctly saline, certainly a life aquatic here, curry powder, white peach and pink grapefruit. It’s spicy, salty, has a sort of milk powder richness, but also fresh acidity and a quinine-like tang, chalk dust texture, and a juicy lime and cinnamon dusted finish of fine length and salt crusted tang. Different, but very good.” – 

Review of 2020: 94 points, Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion “All of the Walsh & Sons whites have a similar phenolic profile, somewhere between mineral/ash/graphite/pencil shavings. Once you get a feel for it, it’s both distinctive and delicious. This is layered and briny, with a spicy pull across the palate. White peach, nectarine and curry leaf.”

RRP $56  *Our Special Price $46.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.