Domaine Naturaliste is the new venture of agronomist award winning winemaker Bruce Dukes. After twenty five years of applying his craftsmanship to international and local producers, Bruce has launched his own range of wines named after the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge which is the dominant land form of viticultural significance in Margaret River; our viticultural domaine.
"The sheer quality of the wines he makes is equalled only by his consistency.” James Halliday
Artus Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Artus is an artistic translation of our local Gin Gin clone into wine. The wine creates its own journey. It is a provocative, complex and textural wine exuding the seductive spirit of "old world” Chardonnay. The vines have been managed to allow only dappled light into the fruiting zone. This promotes flavour development, low tannins and bright levels of natural acidity. The fruit is sourced from the cool southern end of Margaret River. The tiny 100g Gin Gin clusters are hand harvested at first light to preserve freshness of fruit.
An ideal wine to enjoy beside the "Purus Chardonnay” in order to celebrate differences in winemaking styles.
Flavours and perfumes are reminiscent of crème brulee and candied citrus peel with a background of toasty oak. The palate is rich with a viscous creamy texture. A balanced wine expressing intensity and layered complexity promising further evolution over time.
Food Matching
Roast free range chicken | veal | strong cheeses
Maturation
42% new 228 L medium toast French oak barriques for 10 months. The wood is primarily from the Voges and Allier forests.
Winemaking
The cloudy juice from the hand picked and whole cluster pressed fruit begins fermentation spontaneously in toasty French oak barrels. The wild yeasts, full malolactic fermentation and year of sur lie (maturation on lees) allow the wine to create its own story.
Cellaring Potential
Attractive in youth and captivating with up to 8 years maturation.
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