2025 Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River

This is a stunning and stirring example of Margaret River chardonnay from what turned out to be an excellent year. It’s immensely powerful, and the fruit was whole-bunch pressed, which has certainly added to its structural integrity. Got a mix of new and seasoned French oak, and then the lees were stirred, and that’s brought in that textural feel and richness. Brings together the intense minerally fruit with a little gunflint complexity and a touch of lemon rind and grapefruit. Has a dry, savoury, slightly chalky acid finish. Really is a first-rate wine. Drink to 2035.

97 points Ray Jordan Wine Review 2027

This is the latest release of the Reserve Chardonnay from Deep Woods Estate, with the previous vintages consistently rating 95-97 points by Halliday Wine Companion, The Wine Advocate and James Suckling. Here’s what Deep Woods Senior Winemaker Matt Buchan sees in a glass of the 2025:

”In the glass, the 2025 Reserve Chardonnay is pale straw with a green hue and gives off scents of brioche, lemon cream and white flowers, with subtle oceanic notes drifting from the glass. Toasted almond and biscuit characters from oak maturation are a supporting act to citrus-driven fruit aromas. On the palate, perfectly ripe stone fruit merges with lime, elderflower and freshly baked sourdough. It is washed with a profoundly striking acidity that continues in straight lines, with natural fruit sweetness and subtle reduction woven through the finish.’’

More about this wine

This wine is 100% Gin Gin clone Chardonnay with fruit grown in two northern Wilyabrup vineyards complemented by fruit from Karridale. The handpicked bunches were chilled overnight, pressed whole and the juice and solids fermented with indigenous yeasts in in a combination of seasoned and new French oak barriques, hogsheads, and puncheons. The wine was lees stirred occasionally during its nine-month maturation at the end of which the final blend was assembled through a barrel selection of the stylistically most suitable parcels.

About this producer

The 1987 established Deep Woods Estate has over the years shown remarkably high consistency to its well-regarded wines while the production has been growing at a steady pace over the years. Today, the 16-hectare home vineyard in Yallingup Hills is complemented by numerous contract growers across the length of the Margaret River region and the future looks assured after long-term investments in vineyard and winery renovations since the estate became part of the highly ambitious Fogarty Hall Wine Group in 2005.