Pre-Release 2021 Redbrook Estate Chardonnay

PRE-RELEASE (only available in vertical pack)

Please note that we have sold out of our first allocation of this pre-release. We now only have a very limited allocation available, which can only be purchased in the mixed vertical 6-pack with 2x 2019, 2x 2020 and 2x 2021 Redbrook Estate Chardonnay. Any individual orders will unfortunately be voided, and a full refund issued.

Please note these wines will be shipped from 18 September 2023.

winemakers note

We knew we had something extra special not only when we picked this fruit in Feb 2021 but also when we bottled it almost 2 years later. The cooler 2021 vintage in Margaret River drew similarities to that of 2019 and 2017 and the learnings from these prior vintages allowed us to hone in on what worked and what we would have done differently if we had that time again. This really took our 2021 Redbrook Chardonnay to the next level.

Senior Winemaker Matt Bryne

colour

Vibrant and fresh.

aroma

Layered, complex aromas of stonefruit, pear and citrus with seductive fresh toast, dried herbs and malt.

palate

A style of Chardonnay unique to Margaret River and Evans & Tate – very complex with tremendous fruit flavour, whilst retaining freshness and bright acidity. Dry malt, fresh toast and struck match complexity from wild barrel fermentation on solids with ripe pear and peach. A touch of zesty lemon butter on the palate from the partial MLF and extended time maturing on yeast lees. 

cellaring

Will continue to develop for at least five to ten years from vintage. 

winemaking

Our Rowe Road Vineyard drives the style of our Estate Chardonnay with its characteristic richness and drive. This is further enhanced by our use of MLF, time on yeast lees (up to 2 years) and new French oak, to produce a distinct and charismatic wine.

Handpicked fruit was cooled overnight to 8C before the cold whole bunches were tipped into our small airbag press. The juice is squeezed out by the airbag inflating to low pressures – this is the gentlest way to extract the juice and is a prerequisite to making world-class Chardonnay wines.

The juice was allowed a limited amount of controlled oxidation, with the turbid juice then going straight into barrel – 100% French oak, with half being in puncheon format (500L) and the other half barrique (228L). Of this, 50% was new and the balance 1- and 2-year-old.

All barrels underwent wild fermentation on solids. Fermentation was completed to dryness before a small amount of SO2 was added, and the wine was then chilled, and barrels topped and bunged. Two barrels (that represented 17% of the final blend) were allowed to go through MLF to impart texture and complexity and to ensure balance and harmony in the end wine. Battonage was undertaken on each new barrel every 4 weeks and on the 1-year barrels every 8 weeks. Barrel maturation was conducted at 15C for 11 months, followed by a further 10 months on yeast lees in tank before a further 12 month maturation in bottle.

region

Margaret River 

variety

Chardonnay

analysis

• Alcohol: 13.0%

Baked red snapper with garlic and thyme butter.

Sydney Royal Wine Show 2023

The AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy for Best Chardonnay
The Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White
The Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show

James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge 2023

Overall Trophy for Best Australian Chardonnay
Regional Trophy for Best Margaret River Chardonnay
Top Gold - 97 Points

National Wine Show of Australia 2023

Perth Royal Wine Awards 2023