Great Southern Chardonnay 2023

Critic Reviews:

95 points, Wine Showcase March 2024

Great Southern Chardonnay Tasting Notes:

• Colour: Brilliant pale gold, reflecting the wine’s fresh, vibrant profile.
• Aromatics: Inviting aromas of lemon curd and ripe peach, with subtle mealy notes and a hint of struck match complexity.
• Palate: A modern and well-balanced style, with zesty citrus and luscious stone fruit flavours. The new oak contributes a gentle spice, enhancing the wine’s texture and depth.
• Finish: A long and satisfying finish that showcases the wine’s elegant structure, with a bright and refreshing aftertaste.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

• Poultry Dishes: Pairs beautifully with roasted or grilled chicken, especially with rich, herb-infused sauces.
• Creamy Shellfish: Complements dishes like creamy seafood pasta or lobster bisque, where the wine’s acidity balances the richness.
• Sautéed Vegetables: Perfect with sautéed or roasted vegetables, especially those with a slightly caramelized finish, such as butternut squash or asparagus.
• Cheese: Try it with soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert, which complement the wine’s delicate texture and citrus elements.

Vineyard & Winemaking:

The 2023 Singlefile Chardonnay is crafted from grapes sourced from the cool climate vineyards of the Great Southern region. The grapes were harvested in late March, with each parcel picked at optimal ripeness. The wine underwent fermentation in a mix of 28% new and 72% one-year-old Burgundian oak barriques. This careful combination of oak ensures that the wine has complexity and texture without overwhelming the fresh fruit characters. The fermentation process was followed by maturation in the same oak barrels for several months, allowing the oak influence to integrate smoothly.

• Oak Maturation: Aged in 28% new and 72% one-year-old Burgundian oak barriques, which imparts subtle spice and richness.
• Fermentation: Fermented in oak, which allows for a balanced integration of oak and fruit flavours.
• Harvest: Meticulously handpicked in late March, ensuring the best quality fruit for this wine.

Technical Data:

• Grape Variety: Chardonnay
• Region: Great Southern, Western Australia
• Alcohol: 13.3% by Vol | 8.1 Standard Drinks
• pH: 3.28
• Titratable Acidity: 6.6 g/L
• Cellaring: Will develop beautifully over the next 3-5 years.

Vintage Conditions:

The 2023 vintage in the Great Southern region benefited from a warm spring, which provided ideal conditions for the grapes to flourish. The mild summer temperatures and cool nights allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, developing full flavours while maintaining their natural acidity. This resulted in a Chardonnay that perfectly balances fruit freshness and oak influence.

Best Serving Temperature:

• Ideal Serving Temperature: 10°C
  Serving the wine slightly chilled enhances the fresh citrus and stone fruit flavours. If being stored in the fridge, leave out for 10 minutes prior to serving.

Technical Wine Language Explained:

• Burgundian Oak: A type of oak barrel commonly used in Burgundy, France, for aging wines. These barrels allow the wine to take on subtle oak flavours like spice and vanilla while enhancing texture.
• Mealy Notes: A term used to describe the texture and flavour derived from the fermentation and aging process, particularly in wines that undergo malolactic fermentation. These notes can give the wine a creamy or biscuit-like character.
• Struck Match: A subtle aroma that can develop during fermentation, typically from sulfur compounds, adding complexity and a slight smokiness to the wine.
• Titratable Acidity: A measure of the wine’s acidity, contributing to its freshness and crispness. This wine has a well-balanced acidity that supports its fruit flavours.
• pH: A measure of the wine’s acidity. A pH around 3.28 indicates a good balance between freshness and smoothness.

About Singlefile Winery

Singlefile Winery is located in the prestigious wine region of Denmark, part of Western Australia’s Great Southern. With an impressive collection of awards, medals, and accolades, the winery meticulously selects grapes from premium vineyards. The main vineyards are set in the scenic Great Southern area, specifically in Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and the Porongurups, while also sourcing from renowned regions like Margaret River. The Denmark property enjoys a cool maritime climate, ideal for growing aromatic varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which showcase the region’s elegance. In contrast, the Frankland River vineyard, characterised by its continental climate, produces robust varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. This diverse, multi-regional approach allows Singlefile to craft an exceptional range of wines, each reflecting the unique terroirs of their origins and the winemakers’ dedication to quality.

Family History

Singlefile Wines was co-founded in 2007 by Phil and Viv Snowden, both geologists, alongside their daughter Pam and son-in-law Patrick Corbett. Each member had established successful careers before coming together to create Singlefile, united by a deep passion for wine. Pam and Patrick’s time living in Italy as a young couple solidified their appreciation for fine wines, while summer reunions with Phil and Viv provided opportunities to explore Old World wine regions, planting the seeds for their own winery.

After selling their successful consultancy, Snowden Mining, in 2004, Phil and Viv sought a new venture. They, along with Pam and Patrick, immersed themselves in learning about Australia’s key wine regions, determined to find the ideal site for producing exceptional cool-climate wines. Their journey led them to Denmark in Western Australia, where they discovered a slice of paradise. Leveraging their geological expertise, Phil and Viv chose an established vineyard that promised to showcase the true essence of Denmark’s terroir. This site, which now houses the cellar door, became the foundation for Singlefile and its celebrated Chardonnay wines.

Following the construction of the Cellar Door, Patrick and Pam relocated to the east coast of Australia for a year to establish distribution channels, working with sommeliers, trade partners, and consumers to build awareness of Singlefile. Meanwhile, Phil and Viv focused on refining their viticultural practices and enhancing the cellar door experience for visitors.

Today, Patrick plays a crucial role in producing all Singlefile wines, while Pam manages the daily operations. Phil and Viv reside on the Denmark property, keeping a close watch on the vineyards and cellar door activities.

From its family origins, Singlefile has evolved into a respected winery, largely thanks to the dedicated team that supports the founders in realising their vision. Despite its growth, Singlefile retains a family essence, remaining true to its boutique beginnings.

At Singlefile, quality is paramount, achieved through a minimal intervention philosophy in both vineyard and winery. The wines are crafted as naturally as possible, allowing the unique characteristics of the environment to shine in each bottle.

Singlefile is proud to be recognised as one of the premier wineries in the Great Southern region. The entire Singlefile family is driven by a commitment to produce top-quality wines, encapsulated in the Latin motto on their crest: Semper Superne Nitens – “the pursuit of excellence.”

Singlefile’s dedication to making exceptional wines is paralleled by its commitment to the Great Southern region. It’s as large as it is diverse. Its geography is a patchwork of coastal maritime land, gently undulating hills, open grazing country, eucalypt forests and granite outcrops. A true liquorice all-sorts of land girt by sea. And this variety is what makes the Great Southern so convincing as a supreme winemaking region.

Since its inaugural vintage in 2008, Singlefile Wines has been forging relationships with growers across the Great Southern region, under the guidance of wine luminary Larry Cherubino. Together, we meticulously select sites and varieties renowned for their excellence. Join us on a journey through the Great Southern as we explore each of its unique regions.

They have a long list of awards such as winning the International Rose Competition. Not to mention outstanding scores from the likes of Wine Companion & Ray Jordan.

We can order in a Singlefile Wine we don’t stock, email us at info@partnersinwine.com.au