2021 Sandalford Element Late Harvest
The flavours on the nose are in abundance with stone fruit and citrus flavours to the fore. This wine has a natural sweetness balanced by bright, crisp acidity that leads to a fresh, vibrant finish.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
Made from late harvested Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay grapes picked in the cool of the night during the month of February 2021. Following crushing and pressing, the juice underwent a cool fermentation to protect their delicate tropical flavours. This wine is full of natural grape sweetness which gives texture and weight to the palate. This is a wine that matches well with lightly spiced Asian foods. Or simply enjoy on its own.
Meet the maker
By the time I turned 18, I had become fascinated with wine. I was keen to learn as much about wine as I could and I received some great advice: to work in the industry before committing to any tertiary study....
Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Tasting notes
Varietals
Varietal
Chardonnay
Colour
Other Notes
Straw gold.
Nose
Production
The flavours on the nose are in abundance with stone fruit and citrus flavours to the fore. This wine has a natural sweetness balanced by bright, crisp acidity that leads to a fresh, vibrant finish.
Palate
Tasting Note
Passionfruit, pineapple, melons and guava notes. Tropical fruit salad in a glass.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
The 2021 vintage could be best described as challenging. A reflection of the wetter than average summer impacting picking decisions. Our Caversham and Wilyabrup vineyards however fared well and produced fresh, bright, flavoursome fruit to make wines from. Grapes were phonologically ripe at time of picking and harvested with an optimal balance of sugar and flavours. The resulting wines are fresh and display wonderful, bright varietal fruit characteristics.
