Wildberry Estate Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay 2016

Margaret River Chardonnays are renowned for their longevity and complexity, and Wildberry Estate’s 2016 Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay (93 pts – James Halliday; 90 pts – Wine Enthusiast) is no exception. Aged to perfection and approaching its zenith, the hand-harvested 2016 Wildberry Estate Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay offers a brilliant golden glow, enticing aromas, and the complexity of the finest white Burgundy wines – no coincidence considering Wildberry Estate Chardonnay is barrel fermented with 100% natural yeast in French oak barrels. A beguiling aroma of stone fruits, brioche, lemon curd, and spicy vanilla tones greet the nose. Rich, textured, and constantly changing in the mouth, Wildberry’s 2016 Reserve Chardonnay delights the palate with pear, melon, white peach, and a citrus twist. Long on the finish and impeccably balanced, this is a serious world-class Chardonnay. Enjoy this flavorful, intense Chardonnay moderately chilled (40°-45° F) and, as with all premium Chardonnays, we suggest providing Wildberry’s 2016 Reserve Chardonnay a few minutes of aeration before consuming. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2025. Enjoy!

Wildberry Estate’s 2016 Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay is a food friendly wine, fashioned to grace the finest tables. Its complex flavors and multi-layered personality make it an ideal wine to partner with the freshest seafood and poultry. Mussels in a creamy tarragon champagne broth, swordfish crusted with coriander and fennel in a lemon accented beurre blanc, or even something more substantial such as crispy duck confit served with truffle brûléed California figs and macadamia goat cheese make wonderful companions. Lobster mac n’cheese provides another delicious companion to Wildberry’s expressive 2016 Reserve Chardonnay. Parisian flatbreads with Brie, arugula, cracked pepper, and thyme-infused olive oil also make tasty accompaniments, as will creamy pastas and fondues. Salut!

Wildberry is a single vineyard site owned by the Flying Fish Cove winery in Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Australia’s most lauded wine region and a prime source for outstanding Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. It was established by growers passionate about producing great wine using traditional practices, the best technology, and of course superb fruit.

The Margaret River, Western Australia’s only major river, winds through the Margaret River appellation before flowing gently into the Indian Ocean. The appellation is actually a peninsula that sits astride the sea, not unlike Bordeaux. The oldest and most illustrious of Margaret River’s wines flow from the sub-region of Wilyabrup, home to a host of the finest Australian wineries and award winning wines, such as: Moss Wood, Vasse Felix, Leeuwin, Howard Park, Voyager and Wildberry.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are Wildberry Estate’s reigning king and queen, as they are for most Wilyabrup wineries. Wildberry’s Estate 2016 Reserve Chardonnay (this month’s feature) is especially impressive, garnering consistent 90+ points from major critics and magazines worldwide. Previous Wildberry Estate Chardonnays, the 2015 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, and the 2014 Wildberry Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, have landed in the top 5 in The Wine Advocate report. Wildberry’s wines constitute the highest quality and offer tremendous value. Sadly, quantities are limited, but alas the greatest wines grace very few tables or retail shelves.

Margaret River is a green temperate corner of Western Australia that sits beside the sea. Here the Margaret River makes its way through wooded hills and steep ridges carpeted with wild flowers, before sighing almost inaudibly into the gleaming Indian Ocean. Crystalline waters and high rolling surf offer Australia’s finest surfing as well as its most compelling seascapes. These very same waters, along with steady ocean breezes, a unique soil, and a Mediterranean climate, also make Margaret River one of the finest natural wine producing areas on earth and a great place to peacefully while away the time. Although Margaret River accounts for only a little more than 5% of Australia’s wine production, Margaret River wines garner the highest proportion of gold medals and trophies of any viticultural region of Australia – a tribute to Margaret River’s dedication to premium varietals, quality winemaking, and outstanding terroir.