2023 Sandalford Prendiville Reserve Chardonnay
This wine is Margaret River Chardonnay at its best. Intense, generously flavoured, rich, complex and beautifully balanced with the judicious use of high-quality French oak. Barrel fermentation, the use of wild yeasts, and partial malolactic fermentation has created layers of complexity, texture and interest. A fine acid line adds length to the exquisite structure with a long and sustained finish. Whilst drinking beautifully now, this limited release Prendiville Reserve Chardonnay will develop greater complexity and richness with up to 10 years careful cellaring.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
Our old vine Chardonnay fruit was handpicked into small crates and sent to the winery in refrigerated transport. The chilled grapes were then loaded into a tank press for whole bunch pressing to French oak barriques. The resulting juice underwent a spontaneous fermentation and approximately 25% of the wine underwent a spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Both of these processes add to the complexity and overall richness of the wine. Left on lees for eight months before barrel selection and blending, the 2023 wine comprises of 10 selected barrels of which 50% were new, and the balance one year old. Conventional stabilisation and filtration techniques were undertaken before bottling. But no fining agents were used in making this wine.
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
Pale golden straw.
Nose
Production
Appealing bright lemon citrus, stone fruit, nougat, cashew nut, oatmeal and hints of ginger. Wood spice, grilled nuts, honey comb and toasted oak nuances effortlessly support the bright citrus and stone fruit flavours.
Palate
Tasting Note
This wine is Margaret River Chardonnay at its best. Intense, generously flavoured, rich, complex and beautifully balanced with the judicious use of high-quality French oak. Barrel fermentation, the use of wild yeasts, and partial malolactic fermentation has created layers of complexity, texture and interest. A fine acid line adds length to the exquisite structure with a long and sustained finish. Whilst drinking beautifully now, this limited release Prendiville Reserve Chardonnay will develop greater complexity and richness with up to 10 years careful cellaring.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
The spring rainfall preceding the 2023 vintage was the second highest on record in Western Australia. Additionally, the maximum temperatures for spring were very much below average for most of the south west of the state. The persistent rainfall and cool conditions during the spring season promoted lush, healthy canopies with moderate crop levels. The Summer arrived with some timely warm weather in December and January to get things going in the vineyard. It is fair to say that the 2023 seasonal conditions have delivered one of the highest quality vintages seen for well over a decade.
