Brookland Valley Reserve Chardonnay 2023

Established in 1984, the Brookland Valley Estate Vineyard overlooks the stunning Wilyabrup Brook in the Margaret River region. The vineyard is mainly planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and has evolved and grown to 15.4 hectares in size. Brookland Valley regularly produce outstanding wines and their Reserve Chardonnay is often a benchmark for the region.

"This is the top of the wazzer chardonnay and comes from an outstanding season. It is one of the best yet under this label. On the nose subtle notes of gun metal and struck match overlay deeper notes of butterscotch and vanilla bean. The palate is lavishly rich and textured but then tightens with a fine acidity and excellent use of oak. Retains a pristine feel throughout."  Ray Jordan

"The grapes for the Brookland Valley Reserve Chardonnay are selected from distinct rows within the old vine Chardonnay patch at the front of the Brookland Valley property. Low yielding Gingin clone vines, from the 1986 established Brookland Valley Estate vineyard, were selected and hand harvested to facilitate whole bunch pressing. The fruit was hand sorted by passing over a sorting table to ensure optimum quality before pressing to tank. The juice is then immediately transferred to French oak barrels for indigenous fermentation. The wine remained on yeast lees for nine months with routine battonage. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation contributes to the texture and complexity of the wine.

Bright fruit aromas of pink grapefruit, nectarine and nashi pear are overlaid with roasted hazelnut and oak spice. Subtle aromas of brioche, gun flint, lemon zest and nougat provide appealing complexity and interest to the nose. A richly flavoured, full bodied wine displaying purity of fruit and intensity of flavour. A creamy texture balanced with fine natural acidity that finishes with extraordinary length of flavour."  Brookland Valley

Expert reviews

"This is the top of the wazzer chardonnay and comes from an outstanding season. It is one of the best yet under this label. It was put together with largely traditional techniques after hand picking, including whole bunch pressing and barrel fermentation before extended lees work. On the nose subtle notes of gun metal and struck match overlay deeper notes of butterscotch and vanilla bean. The palate is lavishly rich and textured but then tightens with a fine acidity and excellent use of oak. Retains a pristine feel throughout. Cellar 7 years."  Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine - 97 points

"An exceptional wine that brings out the beautiful fruit within, complementing it with precision winemaking. Grapefruit, lemon and ginger spice mingle with feathery lees, toasty/smoky/stylish oak and flinty sulphides, not much just the right amount. All the flavours glide across the palate, teased along by fine acidity. Drink by 2033."  Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion - 96 points

"Light lemon hue. Ripe peach, bacon fat and nougat aromatics. A big and powerful wine, rich and ripe yellow fruits at its core are superbly matched by powerful hazelnut oak notes and a flinty minerality that is lifted by finely woven acidity. Prodigious in length, it carries for ever, never losing its sense of balance to the end. Drink: 2024 to 2036."  Stuart Knox, The Real Review - 96 points

About the winery

Established in 1984 by Malcolm and Dee Jones, the Brookland Valley Estate Vineyard overlooks the stunning Wilyabrup Brook in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. The property is the last land holding before the brook reaches the Indian Ocean. The proximity to these two waterbodies has a profound effect on the climatic conditions in the vineyard and the fruit characters of the grapes. The cooling sea breeze keeps the temperatures mild during summer to allow the grapes to slowly ripen, enhancing their flavour development.

The vineyard today is 15.4 hectares in size, 70% of which is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. It forms part of the 60 hectare Wilyabrup property, which includes the vineyard, a restaurant, a cellar door and two residences. The property was initially granted to Daniel McGregor on a peppercorn lease in 1881 and formed part of the Coast Run used for cattle grazing.

Fast forward to the 21^st century and the property was acquired by Accolade Wines. In late 2022, Accolade sold the property to the Swinney family, one of Australia’s leading winegrowers. Under the sale-and-leaseback agreement, Swinney took ownership of the Wilyabrup property. Accolade retained ownership of the Brookland Valley brand but leased back the vineyard and appointed Swinney to manage it.

The purchase of Brookland Valley Vineyard marked an exciting new phase and extension of a more than 20-year working relationship between Accolade and the Swinney family. Accolade looked forward to seeing the site flourish under Swinney’s bespoke approach to viticulture and vineyard management, while locking in grape supply for its premium wine brands including Brookland Valley Estate and Houghton.

Winemaker Courtney Treacher completed her degree in viticulture and oenology in 2002, gaining experience in the Swan Valley, Perth Hills, Margaret River and the Hunter Valley along the way. She joined Houghton Wines as a cellarhand in 2004, working her way up to her current role as senior winemaker for both Houghton and Brookland Valley Wines (both owned by Accolade) in 2020. Brookland Valley's cellar door, which they share with Houghton, is located on the Wilyabrup property.