Duane Coates is, by his own admission, a 'heart over head' winemaker. Inclined to make wine from almost any interesting parcel of fruit made available to him, he tends to make accountants wince. For Duane, making great wine is not about business decisions; it’s about curiosity, passion, and a little bit of folly.
Duane Coates was awarded his MW in 2020, a culmination of 18 years work for this ultimate recognition in wine. His broad knowledge and deep understanding of wines from across the world informed his no-compromise approach to crafting wines that blend the best in Australian and European winemaking styles. He continually builds bridges between the fruit-driven Australian styles and the savoury, complex wines of the Old-World.
The Adelaide Hills Chardonnay has been an ongoing staple of the range since 2009. This wine has always been a Reserve style with 15+ months oak ageing in a high proportion of new barrels. In 2015 it was decided to make two Chardonnay styles; the traditional style which is now The Reserve Chardonnay, and The Chardonnay.
The Chardonnay is a single vineyard Adelaide Hills wine that sees a shorter maturation time in barrel (11 months), and lower percentage of new oak than The Reserve. The fruit is taken in two hand picks to get a zesty note and taut acidity with the later picked grapes adding mid palate weight and depth. With two vintages in Burgundy, Duane’s winemaking is traditional French in outlook with The Chardonnay 2023 showing some leaning towards modernist Burgundy in style.
Vegan Friendly
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