Watson Family Chardonnay 2018

Description

The Watson family have made benchmark wine in Margaret River since 1973 with Woodlands wines. With strong community contacts spread across the region an opportunity to source fruit and make wine in the style of a Micro Negociant presented itself and their second label Watson Family Wines was born. Immediately approachable and representative of the region with the odd experiment thrown in for excitement,The Watson Family brand represents the very best of Margaret River at an affordable price.

This wine was sourced from the Wilyabrup Valley, located in the heart of Margaret River. This region is known for producing plush whites with ripe flavours, and it’s a region where the “Gingin” clone of Chardonnay excels. This clone typically has smaller berries that offer up high skin-to-juice ratios and higher natural acidity, which match perfectly with the Wilyabrup climate.

After harvesting, the fruit was chilled before being pressed. The wine was then “wild” fermented in barrel to add complexity and structure. Following ferment the wine remained on lees until August, when it was racked together, filtered and bottled.

This wine is a bright, pale straw colour. The nose is complex and opulent, with toasty barrel notes combining with a mix of stonefruits. There are aromas of rockmelon, nectarine and white peach, and also lemon and citrus, with some notes of powder room musk mixed in. The palate is medium bodied and full flavoured, with a rich unctuousness to it, and the fruit flavours of the nose return and run though the palate. The wine finishes with lively acidity, and good length.

RRP $23 … LAST OF THIS VINTAGE $16.99