2022 Reserve Chardonnay
- Siver medal (93pts) - International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023
"A toasty, nutty nose gives way to rich lemon flavours. Streamlined and mineral, with a flinty character sitting alongside richer notes of pastry and lanolin. Powerful, weighty and incredibly inviting!" - IWSC show judges, Aug 2023
"This level was introduced a few years ago and it shows what this excellent little vineyard can achieve. This is as good as any released so far. A thoroughly beautiful merging of quince paste, nectarine and lemon rind get things started on the nose. The palate is restrained and refined yet with a layered complexity. The stone fruit characters reveal, then the subtle struck match flintiness adds further. A class wine. 95 points" - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2024.
"Medium-full yellow colour, with smoky/toasty development, charcuterie and dried-fig nuances, the palate rich and full-bodied, ample in flavour and texture, the latter augmented by a little well-judged tannin. It's quite rich ahd generous, and would reward a little cellar time. 92 points" - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Aug 2023
2021 Reserve Chardonnay
- Gold medal (top in class) - Winestate Organic & Biodynamic Wine Show 2022
"A serious bright golden wine, rich and buttery in style with dense but delicate honeyed fruit expression and good use of oak. 98 points" - Winestate show judges, July 2022
"Such a beautiful wine with so much to like about it. Aromas of peaches and cream cut by a little struck match and lemon zest with just a trace of grapefruit pith. The palate is rich and almost lavish yet held with control by the excellent use of oak. This is a multi-layered chardonnay, and if you’re into chardies with a bit of palate grunt then this guy is a must. 95 points" - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Review 2023
"Bright straw-gold colour. Yellow peach, struck flint and bacon fat aromatics. A big and intense chardonnay, filled to the brim with ripe stone fruits and toasty, nutty oak complexities. It is all well controlled by a tight line of acidity and a hit of tannins to the long finish. It suits those looking for a richer style of chardonnay. 92 points" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review, Jul 2022
Past vintage reviews and awards
2020 Reserve Chardonnay
- Silver medal - WA Boutique Wine Show 2021
- Silver medal - Australian Organic Wine Show 2021
"Golden in the glass; tropical and rich in the mouth. This is layered with yellow peach, red apple skins, curry leaf and loads of brine ... an interesting white currant character and a hint of salted pear. The finish is decided salty – a telltale sign that we're in Margaret River, baby. Very smart; a nod to the more opulent styles that are possible in the region, that are increasingly rare. 95 points." - Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion, Aug 2022
"Aromas of grapefruit pith, nectarine, nougat, grilled nuts, melon skin, vanilla pod and white flowers. Rich, textured, layered and mouth-filling. Plenty of nectarine and white peach, nougat, creamy and spicy oak. Full-flavoured, quite lush, but with plenty of acid to keep things fresh and lively. 95 points." - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, Jan 2022
"Medium to light yellow colour, with a powerfully smoky, toasty-oaky, nougat and grapefruit bouquet. The same power and pungency transfers to the mouth, where it is rich and full-bodied, with a big, generous palate powered by sweet fruit and ending with a slight, well-balanced grip. Silver medal, 92 points" - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Sept 2021
"As good a white wine as any released by Rosily. It's a delicate wine that is so exquisitely balanced and integrated. Delicate white peach on the nose with a vanilla pod, lemon zip. The palate shows excellent balance of oak and fruit, with the light brioche and subtle savoury oyster shell minerality really engaging. Lovely wine. 95 points." - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2022
"Not cheap but the quality is outstanding. One of the best Chardonnays I’ve tasted in the last couple of years, and that includes my survey of top Chardonnays last year. It’s a perfect Chardonnay in my book, because it combines all the classic elements – the white peaches and nectarines, the almonds and the cashews and the new Burgundian oak (33%) into a seamless whole. Nothing overdone, perfect pitch, already great drinking. 97 points. Buy." - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com, Sept 2021
"Complexity of new oak and stewed pear fragrances. Creamy in the mouth with perfect balance of fruit, acid and oak" - 94 points, Winestate July/August 2021
2018 Reserve Chardonnay
"Wild ferment in French oak (roughly two-thirds new), matured for 9 months. 2018 was one of the greatest vintages in Margaret River's history, creating wines of power, grace and balance. This certainly has the fruit concentration and intensity of the vintage; white peach, red apples, curry leaf, crushed cashew, almond meal, sea salt and hints of jasmine tea. The oak is impactful at this stage, but it will only integrate further into the cushion of ripe fruit. 95 points." - Erin Larkin, winecompanion.com, Aug 2021
"Mid-yellow colour, with a developed, resinous bouquet that suggests Friar's Balsam, straw, liberal oak and sulfides superimposed by a little bottle-age. The straw note reminds of aged Hunter semillon - it seems a touch forward. A powerful, pungent, complex wine of forceful personality that drives long, dry and firm through the palate. 93 points." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Feb 2021
"Introduced a few years ago, and since then this wine has really made its mark. This is another outstanding wine based on the exceptional fruit of this very good vintage. Smokey butterscotch and savoury notes on the nose. The palate is generous with cashews and lemon curd flavours and some crunchy, lively citrus characters. It's a very good wine. 96 points." - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2021
2017 Reserve Chardonnay
"Gingin clone exclusively for this wine, fermented in Burgundian-coopered oak (two-thirds new), and 9 months on lees in these barrels. At first it's nutty, smoky and biscuity, then the fruit emerges; nectarine, lime and quince, all held in a firm grip of minerally acidity. There's plenty happening here, but it manages to feel tight and almost restrained at the same time. 95 points." - Steven Creber, winecompanion.com.au, Aug 2019
"Oh Boy, there's lots happening in this mighty impressive chardonnay. Natural fermentation with regular lees stirring brings richness and texture into the palate. Has a nutty cereal and nectarine aromatic. The lees influence brings a creaminess to the palate. Oak is well managed. 95 points, drink to 2029" - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, March 2019
"No shortage of struck match sulphide in with lime and nectarine, spicy cedar oak neatly in tow. It’s tangy, smoky and flinty, but delivers ample flavour, lime, cheese and nuts with a juicy spicy finish of excellent length. Good amount of energy and complexity here. 94 points." - Gary Walsh, winefront.com.au, Dec 2018
"The introduction of a reserve range signals Rosily as a more serious player. This is another cracking-good Chardonnay. Made as a richer style, which is a result of this more northern part of the region. It's power-packed with creamy butterscotch and nectarine, with a savoury citus combo adding poise and complexity. Impressive - 95 points" - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide 2019
2016 Reserve Chardonnay
Gold medal - 2017 Australian Small Winemakers Show
"Hailing from the exulted alluvials across the Wilyabrup district, this breaks out all the contemporary bells and whistles with gusto: reductive mineral-clad flint, wild yeast truffled macadamia and glimpses of stone fruits and oak as an adjunct rather than a scream across the wine's bow. There is plenty of flavour. The finish is tensile, tactile and palate-staining." - 95 points - Ned Goodwin, winecompanion.com
"Only 336 bottles made, and Mick Scott pulled out all the stops to make sure they’re special bottles: the fruit comes from 22-year old vines on the gravel hill, the wine was fermented in barrel without filtering or settling, followed by less stirring. The barrels – 2 thirds new - come from the best coopers in Burgundy, Damy and Sirugue.
"In short, this Chardonnay is a tour de force. The oak is the first thing that hits you; there’s a lot of it, as there is in classy Burgundies that are made to reach their peak in a decade. Biscuits, brioche and nutmeal are wrapped around a core of stone fruit. It’s rich and generous in dimension, smooth and creamy and long. It’ll take a couple of years for all the goodies to make peace with each other, and then this wine will smack our gobs". 95++ points - Kim Brebach, bestwinesunder20.com.au, Nov 2017.
"A new wine from Rosily, I believe. And let me just say, if you like struck match/sulphides in your Chardonnay, and if too much is barely enough for you, then walk this way… Only 336 bottles made. Woof! A blast of struck match and smoky sulphide here, quince, nectarine and grapefruit, ginger biscuits and spicy caramel oak. Medium bodied, intensity and power, grapefruit and quince, almost tastes of green tobacco with the barrel work and reduction, truffle and barely ripe pineapple, acidity to cut it sharp, and a long juicy/savoury finish, laden with toasty spiced tobacco oak. It’s a bit over-done for me, in some respects, but accept that others will find it an exciting wine. Quality is there". - 94 points, Gary Walsh, The Winefront, Oct 2017
"Medium to full yellow colour with a big oaky, smoky, toasty bouquet. There is extraverted grapefruity aroma and flavour there, too. A big mouthful of chardonnay, full-bodied and out-there, with all of its goodies on show. The oak is more balanced in the mouth and it drinks well now. Cellar to 2024 - 93 points" - Huon Hooke, huonhooke.com January 2018