Chardonnay 2005

This is our fifth chardonnay vintage, again under Stelvin. Pre release tastings have ranked this as our best and the most complex to date, and a worthy successor to our first four highly acclaimed vintages. The fruit was picked at Baume 12.5 to achieve high acid levels and at 13.5 to obtain full flavour development. It was partly barrel fermented, with lees stirring and 10 months of maturation in carefully selected French oak barriques. The colour is pale straw with a light green hue. The nose strikingly develops additional complexity in the glass. There is a typical varietal chardonnay nose with citrus, fresh apple with melon and cashews. The wine is fresh on the palate with tight tangy acid and some mineral characters. The controlled, partial malolactic fermentation delivers a smooth richness and elegant mouth feel, without loss of fruit flavour. We expect these characters will develop with careful cellaring over 5 years. The finish is clean with a delightful mouth filling persistence, enhanced by the subtle oak influence. There is a fine balance of fruit, natural acidity and oak which results in a wine which represents a true varietal regional expression of Margaret River chardonnay. REVIEWS & AWARDS Chardonnay 2006  A chardonnay of wonderful delicacy and subtlety. Very intense smells of grapefruit and cashew with some smoky complexity. Beautiful long and intense palate is tight and held with a piercing acidity. Rating 94/100.  Ray Jordan Guide to Western Australian Wine 2008. Chardonnay 2005 Fresh and clean: tight and elegant but intense nectarine and melon fruit: oak background scenery; very good length. Rating 94/100. James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008. Smoky, lightly mineral aromas of grapefruit, lime and tangerineoverlie buttery, creamy oak and hints of tropical fruit. Tangy and forward, its taut, lean and finely scuplpted palate of pineapple, grapefruit, lemon and peach overlies a drying and slightly powdery texture of fine, mineral phenolics. Long, refreshing and finely sculpted. 91/100. Jeremy Oliver; The Australian Wine Annual 2008. Chardonnay 2004  The Wilyabrup district is the quality heart of the Margaret River region, providing wines of real distinction across a range of grape varieties. Chardonnay is a star with estates like Moss Wood, Cullen, Pierro, and Vasse Felix. Thompson Estate is cast in the mould of the best. A very stylish chardonnay. This shows plenty of winemaking input on the nose, but that artefact doesn’t overwhelm some great fruit. Nutty, earthy, and crème brulee notes add fascinating complexity to central fig-jam-like aromas. The palate tracks the nose with complex flavours, creamy texture, and a very fine, lip-smacking, long finish. 95/100.  Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2007.