Tasting Notes
Nose: Lifted florals, pure lemon, nougat, vanilla, cashew
Palate: Tightly wound, layered, savoury, long mineral finish
Food match: Oysters, natural or with citrus ponzu dressing
Oak: French oak, 9 months, 32% new
Colour: Pale straw
Organic Status: Certified Organic
Ratings
0/ 'A good year for whites in Margaret River and this superbly crafted modern-style Chardonnay captures it. Fine and delicate with chalky minerally edges. A mighty fine wine' / 97 points, Ray Jordan, WA Wine Review 2024
Vineyard Notes
A tricky season commencing with good early season growth. A cool and wet November impacted fruit set and resulted in reduced yields. Early summer was hot and dry, then February brought more cool and wet conditions. Our organic farming, however, had the vineyard in terrific shape to deal with the challenges and our Chardonnay was harvested with fruit purity and bright acidity.
Production Notes
2020: Our first organically certified MJW Chardonnay, and an outstanding vintage to boot! The warm growing season was graced by milder ripening conditions resulting in a wine that walks a tightrope between savoury complexity and fruit power. A blend of Margaret River classic Gingin clone offering a pristine citrus core, Dijon 95 clone for minerality and texture, and a hint of Dijon 76 clone. Drinks far too well now, especially given its 20-year cellaring potential. WA Wine Review's Ray Jordan gave this wine 99 points.
2019: Truly reflective of the 2019 season's cooler conditions; steady ripening, slow sugar accumulation, complex flavour development and excellent natural acidity retention, the wine possesses elegance, balance and harmony. Crafted from 56% Gingin clone providing concentrated citrus fruit character and 44% Dijon clone 95, from our unique Broadvale Block 6 vineyard, conveying floral notes, minerality and texture. A Chardonnay that will develop further complexity as it ages. Drink now - 2034
2018: Tightly wound, with layers of vibrant sweet citrus fruits, dried pear & subtle hints of hazelnut and spice. Great line and length, with a silky texture and attractive dry savoury note. The perfect ripening conditions experienced in 2018 produced a truly classic expression of Margaret River Chardonnay which not only drinks well now, in its youth, but has all the power and structure to live on for many years. Drink now - 2033
2017: One of the coolest and latest seasons we've seen with the milder ripening conditions producing an outstanding expression of our MJW Chardonnay. Fragrant aromas of sweet lemon and grapefruit mingle with delicate floral nuances and underlying flinty notes. The tightly wound palate displays Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith, white nectarine and subtle hints of spice, a fine creamy texture, an attractive savoury element and a clean saline mineral edge. Drink now to 2032.
2016: Displaying a bright pale straw colour, this pinnacle wine conveys attractive aromas of citrus fruit and pear mingled with delicate floral nuances and underlying flinty notes. The tightly wound palate displays layers of vibrant sweet citrus fruits and dried pear with subtle hints of spice. The wine displays exceptional purity with a fine texture and an attractive savoury element, which contributes complexity to the palate, finishing with a clean saline mineral edge. Drink now to 2031.
2014: (labelled Tom Price Chardonnay) The pinnacle of our Chardonnay production, this is the first and only Chardonnay labelled Tom Price. It displays the hallmark concentrated citrus fruit flavours from the Gin Gin clone seamlessley balanced with the palate weight and texture of Clone 95. Pale straw with hints of green. Subtle aromas of citrus fruit and pear with delicate floral nuances and underlying flinty notes. The complex and textural palate displays vibrant citrus elements with a fine, delicate creamy oak nuance, underpinned by balanced natural acidity on the finish. Drink now to 2029.