2005 Savaterre Chardonnay......Sold Out......Sold Out...Sold Out

"...this 2005 vintage wine will be spectacular in six or seven year's time - it's inordinately powerful and yet immensely reserved, its heart of grapefruit, minerals, chalk, white flowers, fresh almonds and pears kept well away from its sleeve...it's just starting to show the extreme class of its finish - this is a very lengthy wine, and one of supreme quality. Best of all, it tastes like a Savaterre - at the top of its game. Drink 2010-2017. 96 points"

Campbell Mattinson, Winefront Monthly: March 2007

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Coming after the brilliant 2004 vintage it appears hyped and commercially useful to describe the 2005 as “the best yet”.
However, I stand by this.

I am at a quandary as to why this would be - 2004 was perfect climatically whilst this vintage pushed me more. The 2005 fruit took forever to ripen which I’m guessing was caused by unseasonably cold nights. Maybe this slow development and ripening produced this outstanding vintage. It certainly caused many a sleepless night wondering when to pick! Maybe the vines were that little older or maybe the organic, biodynamic farming practices were showing their beneficial effect. Maybe it was the close planting and low yields per vine (less than a bottle of wine per vine which is one quarter the Australian average). Perhaps I’m simply becoming more experienced as a vigneron.

Let’s end this navel gazing. I feel the 2005 wines are my best to date. I hope you agree.

Balanced, powerful, pure, linear and long with fantastic age worthy structure. Intense and elegant.

My winemaking "holy grail" if you will.


Tasting Notes:

Brilliant straw colour with a chartreuse frame.

A complex yet restrained bouquet offering glimpses of white peach, pear, lime/orange blossom, praline, grilled nuts and mealiness. Really interesting cerebral wine. There is a hint of burnt match on the finish which will be a further complexing factor as the wine evolves over the next 7-12 years.

Once again the Savaterre hallmarks of texture, minerality, intensity and length are present. This is a powerful wine that has a tight and reticent structure only revealing its multitude of layers over many hours which is wonderful as each sip of wine takes on a slightly different character.

It is imperative to open this wine at least 3 - 4 hours ahead of drinking if you are going to experience the layers of complexity the palate has to deliver. This is particularly relevant if you intend to enjoy to consume this wine in the next two years.

The 2005 Savaterre chardonnay was fermented as always with indigenous yeast and using a natural malolactic. No added chemicals to hurry up the process! This is a slow and deliberate progression that respects the integrity of the wine and its terroir. Much akin to the slow food movement.

It was handled as little as possible and given time to rest, consolidate and develop in an unhurried manner - 17 months slow cool elevage in the very best French tight grain barriques. As with all Savaterre wines they were bottled unfiltered when I felt they were ready. The wine was then cellared in bottle for approximately 6 months to slowly develop and evolve.

This wines is made for the long term. There is no rush! I am absolutely convinced that this adherence to traditional methods in the vineyard and winery, combined with sufficient time for the wine's personality to evolve, are of paramount importance in producing wines of terroir or place. Wines of identity.

I really can’t imagine making a better wine than this. This is such a complex, age worthy wine.


Store at 14C.

All grapes under this label are sourced exclusively from the Savaterre Vineyard in Beechworth.