2023 Nocturne Wilson Vineyard Chardonnay

Highly Rated
Sourced from a tiny, high-quality site in Wallcliffe, the 2023 Nocturne Wilson Vineyard Chardonnay is a beautifully pure and finely detailed expression of Margaret River Chardonnay, balancing brightness with subtle power.

Price:
Sale price$66.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Margaret River has no shortage of great Chardonnay sites, but Wilson Vineyard brings something special to the table. Tucked inland in the Wallcliffe sub-region, this small two-hectare block delivers fruit with remarkable purity and finesse - a contrast to the power of Nocturne’s Forrest Vineyard Chardonnay.

Hand-picked from the top of a north-facing slope, the fruit was whole-bunch pressed straight to puncheons (20% new) with no settling or fining. Wild fermentation kicked off within days, followed by months on lees, unsulphured, to build depth and complexity. With Jules' thumbprints all over it, this is a Chardonnay that’s bright, finely detailed, and quietly compelling.

It’s got all the hallmarks of great Margaret River Chardonnay - texture, drive, and that unmistakable coastal freshness - but with an elegance that sets it apart. With just 112 six-packs made, it’s extremely limited.

96 points
"Of the two single-vineyard wines, the other being Forrest, this has more fruit weight and volume, albeit in a Julian Langworthy manner, as it’s still reined-in and tightly focused. Complete with white nectarine, pink and yellow grapefruit, and dabs of ginger (powder and freshly sliced). The palate is harmonious – the right amount of nutty, creamy lees, fine acidity, and fruit powering this to a long finish. Excellent wine today, tomorrow, and beyond."
- Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points
"Wilson’s Vineyard, Wallcliffe. Wonderful vintage is 2023. Juicy pear and citrus, spice, light struck match, a sea spray thing here too. Some gloss, bright acidity, pink grapefruit, lime, and some savoury stuff like parmesan rind and oatmeal, with a zesty finish of excellent length. Lots of energy and very good it is too."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

96 points – "Of the two single-vineyard wines, the other being Forrest, this has more fruit weight and volume, albeit in a Julian Langworthy manner, as it’s still reined-in and tightly focused. Complete with white nectarine, pink and yellow grapefruit, and dabs of ginger (powder and freshly sliced). The palate is harmonious – the right amount of nutty, creamy lees, fine acidity, and fruit powering this to a long finish. Excellent wine today, tomorrow, and beyond." – Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points – "Wilson’s Vineyard, Wallcliffe. Wonderful vintage is 2023. Juicy pear and citrus, spice, light struck match, a sea spray thing here too. Some gloss, bright acidity, pink grapefruit, lime, and some savoury stuff like parmesan rind and oatmeal, with a zesty finish of excellent length. Lots of energy and very good it is too." – Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Vineyard & Terroir
The Wilson Vineyard Chardonnay showcases a different expression from the Forrest Vineyard, trading raw power for subtlety and purity. This single-site vineyard in the Wallcliffe sub-region sits further inland from the coast, offering a distinct profile within Margaret River’s unique terroir.

Location: Wallcliffe, Margaret River
Size: 2 hectares
Aspect: East-west orientation with a slight north-facing slope
Yield: Tiny 4-tonne batch, hand-picked from the top of the slope
Harvest & Winemaking
Handpicked: 27th February
Pressing: Whole bunch-pressed directly to new, one- and two-year-old puncheons, with no settling or fining
Fermentation: Spontaneous, beginning on day three after pressing
Aging: Three weeks on lees, un-sulphured until September
Bottling: Settled, filtered, and bottled in December
Oak: Final blend includes ~20% new oak
Tasting Notes
This is a supple, subtle Chardonnay that still retains Margaret River’s trademark fruit weight and drive.

Aromas & Flavors: Blossom, white nectarine, and remarkable purity
Texture: Elegant and refined, yet with impressive structure and presence
Production
Only 112 six-packs produced.

Final Thoughts
"There is great beauty in purity, and I think this one’s a stunner." – Julian Langworthy

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Margaret River
Australian State WA
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 96
95
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Nocturne Wines

Nocturne is the personal side label of highly decorated Margaret River winemaker Julian Langworthy.

Julian has won just about everything there is to win in Australian wine, having taken out Winemaker of the Year for the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion, the 2016 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at Royal Melbourne in the space of just a couple of years.

The Nocturne wines are all small production with Jules focusing on quality rather than quantity in this range.

The fruit is procured through Julian's connections with local growers developed over his lifetime in the Margaret River region. If you're looking for hidden gems of Margaret River, the Nocturne wines are it.

Winemaker Julian Langworthy Nocturne

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