Domaine Naturaliste Artus Chardonnay 2019

97 Points | Top 100 Wines 2020 - James Halliday

Domaine Naturaliste is the project of highly acclaimed winemaker Bruce Dukes. After twenty five years of applying his craftsmanship to international and local producers, Dukes launched his own range of wines named after the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge; the dominant land form of viticultural significance in Margaret River.

Artus Chardonnay showcases the local Gin Gin Chardonnay clone to produce a complex and textural example of Margaret River Chardonnay with a nod to “old world” Chardonnay. The vines have been managed to allow only dappled light into the fruiting zone; promoting flavour development, low tannins, and bright levels of natural acidity. The grapes were grown in the cool southern end of Margaret River. The tiny 100g Gin Gin clusters are hand harvested at first light to preserve freshness of fruit. 

"97 Points. Whole-bunch pressed, wild-yeast fermented in new (40%) and used French oak. The bouquet is complex with funky (good) aromas, the palate briefly nodding to the bouquet before moving on to a pure stream of fresh citrus and white peach. The balance and aftertaste are special. $49. 13% alc. Drink by 2034."- James Halliday, Top 100 Wines 2020.

"96 Points. The smooth operator in the Naturaliste Chardonnay range, and Naturaliste always puts me in mind of naturists, which is not something I want to dwell on overmuch, unlike this wine. A little struck match, pear and almond, some cinnamon spice, ripe lime, almost. It’s silky and smooth, a cashew-like richness, some toast too, but pure in fruit flavour, delicious ripe grapefruit tingle and cut to its acidity, a slight flintiness to texture, and a surge of flavour, lime rind and floral things on a very long finish. Sophisticated and seductive. Beautiful. Tasted: Sep20 13% alc. $49 Screwcap Drink: 2020 - 2026+"- Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.