2024 Wild Cape Chardonnay

Wild Cape is a celebration of the raw beauty of Western Australia’s South West and is inspired by the spectacular coastline and distinct regional characteristics of Margaret River wine.

Through photographer Andrew Semark’s epic and dramatic photography, Wild Cape embodies the essence of the region where dramatic waves crash onto the coast and world-class wines are produced in this remote, pristine part of the world.

Andrew describes the Wild Cape Chardonnay photo ‘Glimmer’ as “power and beauty”, which perfectly encapsulates the richness of Margaret River Chardonnay. This richness is also captured by the orange glow of the sky and the reflection on the ocean surface and is something that Senior Winemaker Matt Byrne showcases in his winemaking. He aims to celebrate “it’s [Chardonnay] ability to show complexity, texture and fruit power without sacrificing freshness.”

colour

Vibrant and brilliant in condition. Light, dry straw hue with a youthful green tint.

aroma & palate

Powerful ripe, fleshy stonefruit, melon and ripe pear flavours found in the best Chardonnay fruit grown in Margaret River. Balanced and matched with wild barrel fermented elements of malt, tropical fruits, cashew nut and fresh toast. A long, intriguing and massively flavoursome Chardonnay wine from the powerful 2024 vintage.

cellaring

Best enjoyed within the next three to five year for maximum freshness.

vintage

The 2024 vintage in Margaret River commenced very early due to the prolonged 7 month period of warmer and drier than average months that commenced in Spring (Oct) 2023 and continued throughout the entire Summer and into mid-Autumn (April) 2024. Fortunately, our vineyards are mature and located on ideal soil types and did not miss a beat during these challenging warm and dry conditions that the 2024 vintage presented. Although yields were down, flavour intensity and tannin ripeness in our red varieties is superb and we are particularly excited in seeing how these wines mature in barrel and taste in the months and years to come. The white varieties also have superb flavours whilst retaining their refreshment, acidity and flavour that they are renowned and loved for.

winemaking

Following a combination of hand and machine harvesting, the cool, cloudy juice (free-run only) went straight from the small airbag press (the most gentle pressing option) into French oak barriques (228L) and puncheons (500L) (Treuil & Dargaud & Jaegle cooperages) for wild fermentation. The wine was fermented dry then each barrel was chilled and lightly sulfured with no MLF encouraged to retain purity and style. It was left in barrel for 10 months to mature on yeast lees before a further 4 months on yeast lees in stainless steel tank prior to a single filtration and then bottling (2 months bottle age to settle the wine). 

A wine made in a simple, pure way with pristine, first-class fruit. The result is a classy Chardonnay wine which achieves the rare feat of showing complexity without sacrificing freshness and flavour.

region

Margaret River

variety

Chardonnay  

analysis

• Alcohol: 13.5%
• pH: 3.15
• Acidity (TA): 6.89 g/L

For the ultimate summer snack pairing, try crispy salt and pepper squid with a glass of Wild Cape Chardonnay watching the sunset by the coast.