2020 CHARLI JAYE CHARDONNAY

Double Gold | 2023 Melbourne International Wine Competition

Silver | 2023 London Wine Competition | “Good Complexity and structure. On the nose jasmine and quince peels. On the palate notes of Lemon , herbs , cream and vanilla. Long rich yet dry finish.”

Historical record of achievement:

2018 – Gold | 2020 Melbourne International Wine Competition (95 points)

2018 – 94 Points | Wine Orbit | “It’s stylish and complex on the nose showing apricot, fig, vanillin oak, popcorn and subtle spice aromas, followed by a beautifully weighted palate displaying expansive mouthfeel backed by bright acidity. Generous yet refined and poised with a persistent silky finish.” ~Sam Kim~

2018 – 93 Points | Australia’s National Liquor News, March 2021 Tasting | “Deliciously moreish. Complex butterscotch and vanilla, silky over generous citrus flavours. Finishes clean and refreshing, ready for a second sip.” ~Michael Mcintosh~

2018 – 90 Points | The Real Review | “Rich, creamy chardonnay with peach, apple, toast, cashew nut and spicy oak flavours. Weighty wine with a pleasing texture. Accessible now but should continue to offer pleasing drinking for another 4-5 years. Drink by 2028.” ~Bob Campbell~

2017 – Silver | 2020 London Wine Competition

2017 – Silver | 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition

2017 – 91 Points | National Liquor News, March 2020 edition | “Cheesecake on the nose. Very unique flavours. Palate is very bright and acidic.” (The NLN tasting team deduced that “Cool climate is where Chardonnay seems to be finding its home.” …we couldn’t agree more!)

2016 – Silver |  2018 San Francisco International Wine Show

2015 (first release) – Top 20 Premium Chardonnays | Drinks Magazine Australia, April/May 2016 edition

2020 Vintage Summary:

As quoted by Barossa Wine “Barossa’s 2020 wines will again be sought out early by fans and collectors, with yields tracking below the 10-year average due to temperamental spring weather, and a hot, dry summer.”

Our whole region’s reduced yield was partly due to some interrupted flowering in spring, thanks to some very cold nights and strong winds, followed by extremely hot, dry summer conditions. As in previous years, we focused our attentions on maintaining soil moisture and irrigating before these heatwaves and we fared alright through the hot conditions.

In some areas of Eden Valley, vineyards were down 70-80% (mainly due to lack of water) and in a few cases some vineyards were not even picked at all.

With sustainability of great importance to the longevity of our family business, we’ve put the following measures in place to mitigate the challenges that hot vintages throw your way:

• We have improved rainfall catchments with the installation of almost half a million litres of rainwater tanks, to compliment our existing dam supply. Coupled with our desalination plant used for our bore water, we have a secure and reliable water supply to keep our vines hydrated over warmer summers.
• Working alongside an agronomist, our viticulture team measure and critically examine our soil water moisture and nutrient levels, to determine how best to nurture our vines. Computerised soil moisture probes sync to our phones, allowing us to better determine location and duration of irrigation required.
• Drip feed irrigation gives us precise control over vine watering, which both conserves water and ensures it is being delivering to only the vines that need it, when they need it. 
• Regular vine walks allow us to check for vine stress and irrigation efficiencies.
• Straw mulch laid under vines improve moisture retention, lowers our soil temps and reduces vine stress, reduces weeds and creates good habitats for micro-organisms and worms.
• Mid-row grasses are also grown to further lower soil temps and improve organic matter.
• The addition of extra foliage wires on certain varietals helps to build those higher canopies and protect grapes from sunburn, and reduce heat stress and water consumption.
• We apply an all-natural ‘surround’ clay sunscreen to our white grapes to protect them from sunburn and heat stress, which simply washes off prior to harvest.

It is thanks to these methods that we were still able to produce over half of our normal yield, in a year when many growers couldn’t. Despite being down 45% on our own normal production levels, our 2020 quality is brilliant. Winemakers are touting this as another high-quality Barossa vintage. Further evidenced by this wine being awarded a Double Gold at the 2023 Melbourne International Wine Competition!