Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Price:
$35.00
Dry Grown Reserve Chardonnay 2022 is crafted from fruit grown on Galafrey’s 41-year-old dry-grown vineyard in Mount Barker, Great Southern. Pale straw in colour, it opens with lifted aromas of white peach, tropical fruit and finely integrated French oak, complemented by subtle honeyed buttery notes. The palate is rich yet elegant, revealing flavours of fig, lemon rind and melon layered over a creamy texture, balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, fresh finish.
Technical Details
- Alcohol: 13.0% Alc/Vol
Tasting Notes
The Dry Grown Reserve Chardonnay is pale straw in colour with brilliant clarity and vibrancy. The bouquet is lifted and complex, revealing aromas of white peach and tropical fruit beautifully integrated with premium French oak and subtle notes of honeyed butter and vanilla.
The palate is rich yet elegant, combining youthful flavours of fig, lemon rind and ripe melon with lively natural acidity. A creamy mid-palate and finely balanced oak influence provide depth and texture, leading to a long, fresh and persistent finish.
Vineyard
The fruit for this wine was sourced from our 49-year-old, 12-hectare dry-grown vineyard in Mount Barker, Great Southern. Unlike most modern vineyards, our vines are not irrigated, relying solely on natural rainfall. These low-yielding old vines produce small berries with exceptional concentration, resulting in wines of remarkable flavour and character.
Planted on ancient gravelly loam soils in one of Australia's premier cool-climate wine regions, the vineyard is cane pruned and typically yields around two tonnes per hectare. Slow ripening conditions allow the fruit to develop outstanding flavour, natural acidity and balance, producing wines with both elegance and longevity.
Vintage Comments
The 2022 vintage began approximately two weeks later than recent seasons, reminiscent of the traditional Great Southern harvests of years past. A wet winter and spring were followed by periods of intense summer heat and strong easterly winds before cooler autumn conditions and welcome rainfall arrived.
The season was defined by slow, steady ripening, rewarding careful vineyard management and patient winemaking. White varieties developed vibrant natural acidity and excellent ageing potential, while the extended ripening period delivered fruit with exceptional flavour intensity and balance.
Winemaking
Mount Barker's cool climate provides ideal conditions for producing premium Chardonnay. This wine was fermented and matured in new French oak barrels for 12 months, enhancing complexity while allowing the fruit to remain the focus.
A carefully managed malolactic fermentation was encouraged to soften the natural acidity and add richness and texture to the palate, contributing a beautifully creamy mouthfeel. Combined with extended oak maturation and regular lees contact, this creates a Chardonnay with depth, balance and elegance.
Our winemaking philosophy combines meticulous vineyard management with thoughtful craftsmanship to produce wines that express both varietal purity and a true sense of place. The result is a beautifully structured Chardonnay with vibrant fruit, integrated oak and a long, refined finish.