Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Chardonnay 2022 (Margaret River)

This wine continues Woodlands commitment to 100% Wilyabrup Vally Chardonnay, 100% fermented in barrel, with 0% additions during ferment.

Vintage 2022 started slowly and finished with a bang. Spring was cool and wet, causing yields to be down, but fortunately disease and bird pressure was low. By mid-December the temperature rose rather rapidly. The weather conditions lead to a rapid veraison at a later than usual date, causing a lot of Chardonnay blocks to be fully ripe at once! Coming in thick and fast, the condition of fruit was fantastic.

Once harvested and in the winery, the fruit was sorted and gently de-stemmed before being gently pressed. A small portion of this wine was also pressed as whole bunches, which we feel adds finesse. 100% of ferments proceeded without addition in French oak, with some malolactic fermentation occurring though not promoted. This wine spent a total of 7 months in barrel.