Estate Chardonnay

Xanadu was among the first wave of Margaret River wineries, established in 1977, and its Estate Chardonnay draws exclusively from vines grown on the winery's home blocks — a deliberate choice to capture the site's signature rather than blend across the region. Margaret River's Wallcliffe and Wilyabrup subzones sit on ancient gravelly loam over clay and ironstone, with the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge moderating ocean influence from both the Indian Ocean to the west and the warmer inland air — a thermal balance that preserves natural acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness. Fermentation is conducted with wild/native yeasts in French oak barriques, a proportion of which are new, building texture without overwhelming the fruit; the wine then undergoes extended lees aging with regular bâtonnage, adding creaminess and mid-palate weight. Malolactic fermentation softens the naturally firm acidity characteristic of Margaret River Chardonnay without erasing its structural backbone. What separates this expression from regional peers is the strict estate-only sourcing — no purchased fruit — giving the wine a consistency of site character across vintages. Drink now through 4–6 years from vintage for peak integration of oak and primary fruit.