2021 Reserve Chardonnay

winemaker note

The Deep Woods Reserve Chardonnay is one of Margaret River and Australia’s most recognised and regionally distinctive Chardonnays. It is structured and powerful, yet beguiling and sophisticated. The 2021 Reserve Chardonnay marks my tenth vintage of making this modern, house-style. It beautifully represents the strength of our Chardonnay program and has now become one of Deep Woods’ most iconic wines.

Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker

colour

Pale straw with brilliant green tinges. 

aroma

The nose is complex and alluring showing a flinty minerality, waxy lemon peel, white peach and freshly toasted brioche with butter. The wine opens up to show a complex array of kaffir lime, stone fruits and lifted floral notes.

palate

The palate shows restrained power and great balance. Suggestive of juicy ripe citrus and grilled almonds, its amazing natural acid drive carries the wine long and provides a crystalline clarity to the fruit. Fine structure and a nervous energy define this exceptional wine.

cellaring

Optimum drinking within three to ten years of vintage.

vintage

2021 was another complex vintage for Margaret River. Locked out from the rest of the world, we were free to focus on growing world-class grapes and crafting really exciting wines. A surprisingly strong vintage for Chardonnay in Margaret River.

A warm, early summer was followed by occasional tropical rain events providing its challenges but resulting in wines with typical refinement, vibrant fruit and balanced acidity.

winemaking

This wine is an assemblage of largely two central Wilyabrup vineyards, with additional fruit coming from an excellent mature vineyard in Wallcliffe and a small amount of fruit from Karridale.

The fruit was hand-picked and then chilled to maintain pristine condition. A minimalist approach in the winery included whole-bunch pressing, wild fermentation and sparing lees stirring in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak.

The individual parcels were kept separate and aged on lees for nine months until the final wine was blended for bottling.

region

Margaret River

variety

Chardonnay 

analysis

• Alcohol: 13.0%
• pH: 3.08
• TA 7.90 g/L

Seared scallops with a lemon pepper butter topped with parsley.

Global Fine Wine Challenge 2022

98  

Best Chardonnay
White Wine of Show

James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge 2022

97  

Margaret River Wine Show 2022

Wine of Provenance - 2021, 2016 & 2013 Reserve Chardonnay

Wine Show of Western Australia 2022

Perth Royal Wine Awards 2022

Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2022

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2022

James Suckling 2022

A tight and full-bodied white with flint, stone, sliced apples and pears. Really mineral undertone. Seashells, too. It’s so tight and focused with lots of structure. Long and intense. Powerful gunpowder and spice and sea salt. This is impressive to drink now like a top young Burgundy (Chevalier-Montrachet) but will deliver so much more in the future. Drink or hold.

98

Huon Hooke, The Real Review 2022

Smoky matchstick reduction adds extra layers of character to a very complex bouquet. It's funky in the nicest possible way. Sensational intensity of flavour; lively and fresh, a wine of power and precision. Indeed, a great chardonnay!

97

Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2023

This is one of the finest Deep Woods chardonnay releases. It comes from two key Wilyabrup vineyards with additional fruit from further south at Karridale and Wallcliffe. Has such a vital and high energy mouth feel with a crunchy juicy texture. Citrus tang with minerally acid accentuates these engaging characteristics. Different parcels were aged separately for nine months on lees and then brought together for the magic to happen.

97

The Wine Front, Campbell Mattinson 2022

Fabulous intensity of flavour, building as it goes until the finish is where it's at its peak. Guava, peach, grapefruit and something like kaffir lime, with smoky/cedarwood oak and matchstick notes purring over the top. There's a directness to this wine, almost a sharpness - thanks to its lime-like aspect - but at the same time it's both textural and flavoursome. This is quite stunning even now but it's best drinking days are head of it.

95