2014 Marchand & Burch Villages Chardonnay, Great Southern

96 pts - James Halliday Hand-picked from Porongurup vineyards; wild yeast-fermented in French barriques. Shows the magic of this subregion, with the extra integrity and precision is seems to give all varieties grown there; here there is a chorus of trumpets announcing the mouthwatering, vivid pink grapefruit and peach fruit flavours and minerally acidity that have devoured the oak.

Acclaimed wine critic Winsor Dobbin reviewed the 2014 Marchand & Burch Villages Chardonnay, awarding it an impressive 94 points: “Marchand and Burch is a joint venture between French-Canadian winemaker Pascal Marchand and the Burch family, owners of leading West Australian winery Howard Park, among others. Whether it is the winery impact of Burgundy-based Marchand, or the quality of the fruit from the Porongurups in the Great Southern, anyone tasting this wine blind could be forgiven for thinking it was Burgundian. There is a lively minerality and purity here. I love the structure and restraint. There is so much happening here it is like a novella in a bottle. A wine of elegance and structure that is under-priced at $37.”

94 points Tony Love of the West Australian Sunday Times Magazine publication also reviewed the 2014 Villages Chardonnay, awarding it 4.5/5 stars: “The joy in this wine is its restraint. Oak and yeast are toned back so the flavours of pear and nectarine can be fully appreciated from start to finish.” 4.5 stars

Winemaker Janice McDonald shares the following wine notes for the 2014 Marchand & Burch Villages Chardonnay: This chardonnay has a subtle bouquet of white field flowers, meringue and citrus zest. The flavours and textures of finely ground nutmeal and lemon curd, give weight to the palate whilst a fine stony acidity adds length and crispness.