About Nocturne
About

2019 Nocturne 'SR' Chardonnay
Nocturne
Treeton: It’s a weird little area full of hillbillies, dairy cows and, interestingly, some great Chardonnay vineyards. Cold at night, warm in the day with deep silver-grey sands that we think produce special Chardonnay. This wine is a combination of two awesome Treeton vineyards: the original and favourite Tassell Park; and a new vineyard called Grace & White.
I know you’re all sick of hearing it, but it was again a very good vintage. Quite long and largely cool, there was some disease pressure but not too much and, as such, it all worked out pretty damn fine. The season was Goldilocksesque in terms of picking dates. As always these vineyards were some of the last picked on 5th and 9th April, a couple of weeks later than in 2018.
The grapes were harvested by hand and whole bunch-pressed directly to new, one- and two-year-old puncheons, with a smattering of barriques for good measure. We did no settling or fining. This juice was then very carefully neglected and allowed to undergo spontaneous fermentation, which kicked off on day five after pressing. After a six-week ferment the wine remained on gross lees unsulphured until August of that year. In November it was emptied from barrel, settled, filtered and bottled.
This wine is, unsurprisingly, super cool. It’s pale green, redolent of white stone fruits and the suggestion of flint and funk. So pure, and finer than the 2018 – but the texture and length of flavour are to die for. Chardonnay is what Jesus made when he turned water into wine, it’s also why we winemakers have a God complex. – Alana & Julian Langworthy
October, 2020
Halliday Wine Companion
95 points
A combination of cooler growing area (Treeton, in the south of Margaret River) and the cool 2019 vintage. Creamy cashew and ripe citrus nose, the palate has a searing line of shaley, minerally acid that courses over the very centre of the tongue. The mid palate onwards plumes into a concentrated and rich cloud of flavour. The fruit spectrum is very much in the yellow peach, white nectarine and pink grapefruit space. Engaging, chalky phenolics through the finish. Textbook brilliance.
August, 2020
The Wine Front
94 points
It’s crisp and fresh with a little struck match a la mode, cashews, lime and white peach, and a dusting of spice. Freshness and lime juice tang with a flinty feel, and the smoothing influence of grilled nuts, and a brisk and frisky finish of fine length and precision. It’s nice.
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About Nocturne
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