Fraser Gallop Palladian Chardonnay 2022

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Pale straw with green tinges.
• Aromatics: Cumquat, lemon, green apple and citrus zest with hints of struck match, nougat and wet river stones.
• Palate: Saline, crystalline and intensely focused. Zesty lemon and grapefruit drive through the mid palate with underlying nougat richness. Flinty, quartz-like dryness is balanced by a subtle touch of sweetness, creating tension and harmony.
• Finish: Long, textural and beautifully poised with fine acidity and light toasty oak in perfect sync.

Awards

Ray Jordan, WA Wine Review 2025, 97 pts
Immediately strikes with intense precision and deep minerality. Citrus, savoury notes and chalky complexity showcase Chardonnay at the highest level. Powerful yet elegantly refined.

James Suckling, 96 pts
Hazelnuts, lemon curd, salted caramel, baked apples and toasted brioche. Full bodied and buttery with lively acidity. Salty caramel undertone on a long, sophisticated finish.

Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 95 pts
A glassy, pristine and exceptionally classy Palladian. Fluffy, powerful fruit wrapped in sleek acidity and fine phenolics. Pure Gin Gin clone, 100 percent new French oak and absolutely delicious.

Plus additional accolades:
• Halliday Wine Companion 2025, 95 pts
• James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge 2024, 92 pts
• The Real Review, 96 pts
• Decanter 2024 Margaret River Report, 96 pts
• Huon Hooke, 95 pts

Winemaker’s Note

The Palladian style focuses on purity and elegance, using meticulous whole bunch pressing and extended barrel work to shape a Chardonnay of remarkable refinement. The 2022 vintage, with its warm ripening season, has delivered a fuller, richer style supported by bright acidity and flinty detail.

Viticulture and Winemaking

• Variety: 100 percent Chardonnay
• Clone: Gin Gin
• Region: Wilyabrup, Margaret River
• Harvest: Hand picked on 21 February 2022
• Pressing: Whole bunch pressed to 450L per tonne for purity and low phenolic extraction
• Fermentation: 100 percent barrel ferment in 500L Burgundian special toast puncheons
• Lees Work: Stirred weekly for one month to build creamy texture
• Maturation: 9 months in French oak puncheons
• Bottling: 15 December 2022
• Alcohol: 13.0 percent
• pH: 3.1
• TA: 8.3 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 3.5 g/L

Cellaring Potential

Will continue to develop complexity, structure and richness over the next 10 to 12 years. Expect toasted hazelnut, lemon curd, honey and layered savoury complexity with time.

Food Pairing Suggestions

• Seared scallops with citrus butter
• Crispy skin barramundi with lemon beurre blanc
• Roast chicken with thyme and garlic
• Lobster rolls with lemon aioli
• Soft-ripened cheeses such as brie or triple cream

FAQ Wine Terms 🧐

What makes the Gin Gin clone special?
It produces small, thick-skinned berries that deliver power, texture and exceptional concentration.

Why use 500L puncheons?
Larger barrels allow oak influence to be refined and elegant, supporting the fruit rather than overpowering it.

What does struck match mean?
It refers to a sulphide-derived character common in high-end Chardonnay, offering flint, smoke and complexity.