Nocturne Wilson Vineyard Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2024
Nocturne Wilson Vineyard Wallcliffe Chardonnay
Region: Margaret River, Australia
Vintage: 2024
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Chardonnay
ABV: 13%
Supple and subtle in expression, this wine retains the hallmark fruit weight and drive of Margaret River Chardonnay. Aromas of blossom and white nectarine lead into a pure, focused palate, all framed by a distinctive mineral backbone that is characteristic of Nocturne’s style.
The fruit is sourced from a single site in the Wallcliffe sub-region, located further inland from the coast near the township. The Chardonnay comes from a small, two-hectare block planted on an east–west orientation with a slight northerly aspect. This limited four-tonne parcel is hand-picked exclusively from the upper portion of the slope, capturing the site’s most expressive fruit.
The fruit was harvested on the 3rd of February, chilled overnight, and whole-bunch pressed directly into a selection of new, one- and two-year-old puncheons, with no settling or fining. Fermentation with indigenous yeast began naturally on the third day after pressing and proceeded over approximately three weeks. The wine then remained on gross lees without sulphur until September. In December, it was removed from barrel, settled, filtered, and bottled, with the final blend comprising around 20% new oak.
Julian Langworthy, the man behind Nocturne, is one of Australia’s brightest winemaking talents. Born and raised in the Margaret River, Julian made his name working for well-established wineries in Western Australia. He has won countless awards and trophies in the process, including two of Australia’s most cherished titles, the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2014 and Halliday’s Best Winemaker in 2019. Nocturne is Julian’s solo venture. Here he creates small quantities of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional sites, highlighting the distinct qualities of Margaret River’s Treeton, Wilyabrup and Yallingup sub-regions. What began as a side hustle in 2010 has grown to become one of Australia’s most exciting producers. Highly sought after and in short supply, the Nocturne wines sell out every year soon after release.
https://www.nocturnewines.com.au