Varietal 100% Chardonnay Closure Screw Cap Size 750ml Acl/Vol 13.2% Enjoy Now - 2016 The 2007 Chardonnay displays ripe stone fruits, dried pear, tropical fruits and noticeable creamy nuttiness from the lees contact. The early picking, wild fermentation, use of grape solids, and ongoing battonage gives the wine complexity and balance. These winemaking techniques combined with high quality French oak produce a wine with ample flavour and texture, yet still refined and structured, as all Voyager Estate Chardonnays are. The wine was 100% barrel-fermented in 40% new oak, 40% one-year-old and 20% two-year-old French oak (François frères, Dargaud & Jaegle, Damy, Seguin Moreau). In order to get the benefits of subtle texture without losing the fruit freshness in the wine, 15% of the fruit was inoculated for malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged for 12 months in French oak barriques with regular battonage. Pale straw in colour. Classic southern Margaret River grapefruit and dried pear fruits dominate the nose at this early stage. Plenty of nutty flavours and mealy notes from the lees stirring and quality French oak. Lovely soft and textured fruits dominate the palate. This Chardonnay is very creamy with the regional dried pear and pink grapefruit starting to show through.   What the critics think 2007- “In the top tier of Margaret River Chardonnay (and hence Australia’s) with stone fruit, melon and grapefruit flavours; has soaked up barrel ferment in French oak (40% new) and 12 month maturation, leaving just a trace of nuttiness.” Rating 96 points James Halliday – The Australian Wine Companion – 2010   2007 - "Stylish, elegant and focused, this rather tight, silky and finely controlled chardonnay has a delicate floral perfume of grapefruit, melon and citrusy fruit, lightly toasty oak, grilled nuts and creamy, leesy undertones backed by cloves and cinnamon. Long and savoury, its pristine, crystalline fruit is tightly underpinned by a fine chalkiness, finishing long and restrained, with a pure core of flavour, complex bakery notes and a mineral aspect wrapped up with a taut and finely balanced acidity." Jeremy Oliver - The Australian Wine Annual - 2010 Edition