2024 Robert Oatley Finisterre Chardonnay, Margaret River

Fruit comes from a number of different sites across Margaret River, with the aim of creating a wine of complexity and balance while retaining elegance. After handpicking, it was whole bunch pressed into a mix of new and one- and two-year-old barriques for wild fermentation. A further 10 months in oak has built deep complexity on the palate. Cashew, crunchy honeycomb and nectarine provide a compelling combination. It is textured but retains a fine chalky acidity to define a most impressive wine.

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Finisterre Chardonnay is part of the Robert Oatley Signature Series, a range created to highlight classic regional styles with clarity and value. Robert Oatley was a passionate wine lover and entrepreneur who built one of Australia’s most respected wine families, with the current portfolio guided by the Oatley winemaking team. In Margaret River, fruit is sourced from premium coastal vineyards where gravelly loam soils and Indian Ocean breezes shape wines of brightness and finesse. The philosophy is precision and balance, delivering varietal purity without excess weight.

Margaret River Chardonnay thrives in these maritime conditions, ripening slowly while retaining natural acidity. Fruit is harvested at optimal flavour ripeness and gently pressed to protect delicacy. Fermentation occurs in a mix of stainless steel and French oak, allowing texture and subtle spice to build without overwhelming the fruit. Lees ageing adds a creamy undercurrent while preserving tension and freshness. The aim is a polished, food friendly Chardonnay that overdelivers for its price.

Pale straw in colour, the aromas open with white peach, lemon zest and nectarine layered with hints of cashew and light toast. The palate is medium bodied and vibrant, with citrus and stone fruit carried by bright acidity and a soft, rounded texture. Subtle oak influence supports a long, clean finish with a gentle mineral edge.

It pairs beautifully with seafood, roast chicken, creamy pasta and grilled prawns. Drinking beautifully now for its freshness and approachability, it will cellar comfortably for five to eight years, developing nutty complexity.

This is Margaret River Chardonnay with pedigree and polish at exceptional value, fresh, balanced and reliably satisfying.