Silkwood Estate The Bowman Pemberton Chardonnay 2019

Put simply, this is the best wine I have seen from Silkwood Estate. Loved it. It also confirms that Margaret River is not the only destination for quality chardonnay in Western Australia. 

This comes from a blend of three clones, including the famous Gingin clone (60%) with the rest divided equally between clones 1 and 95. Each was harvested and fermented separately. Fermentation was in a mix of new (40%) and second-year (60%) French oak barriques. 50% wild, 50% inoculated yeasts. The lees were stirred twice a week and the wine spent 8 months in oak. 

It opens with classic chardonnay aromas of nuts, oatmeal and grilled cashews with nutmeg-y oak which is well balanced and likely to integrate further over the coming months. Supple, good length and balanced. There are notes of grapefruit pith on the palate. Good focus, good intensity of flavour throughout, and a pleasing mineral background