The Alkoomi vineyards and winery are located in the rapidly expanding Great Southern region northwest of Albany in Western Australia, about 80 kilometers inland from the Southern Ocean. The southern influence makes this the coolest climate region in Western Australia and one blessed with reasonable rainfall, long autumn sunshine and generally very consistent climatic conditions year by year. Alkoomi is recognized as one of Australia’s most outstanding wineries. Year after year this family owned winery produces wines of exceptional quality, elegance and class.

The soils are deep gravelly loam over clay subsoil. The combination of these soils and the cool climate lead to the production of intense, refined and elegantly structured wines. Canopy management is important to Alkoomi. They use upright trellises with vertical shoot positioning and implement a policy of minimal spraying. The soil is not tilled and the vines are all cane pruned by hand. The vines are watered only as required to prevent any severe stress - i.e. approximately twice a month during the summer months.

The winemaking approach is non interventionist - in other words, they let the fruit do the talking, using traditional winemaking techniques. A cool cloudy spring followed by a cool summer led to a very late vintage. The wine was tank fermented dry and bottled two months later to retain its freshness. The Alkoomi 2006 "White Label" Unwooded Chardonnay was made from estate grown fruit. The grapes were picked at 13.5 Baume to capture the richness of Chardonnay. The wine was tanked fermented and bottled two months later. There is no oak maturation whatsoever.

The color is pale straw with a lively translucence. This unwooded Chardonnay is a superbly vibrant, naked expression of Chardonnay fruit. The bouquet displays vibrant attractive aromas of peach and melon aromas with some lovely floral accents. The palate is lively, crisp and refreshing with a core of white peach, pear and melon flavors with some lovely spicy notes in the background giving the wine additional palate weight and depth of flavor. Whilst enjoyable now, this wine will hold its own for the next two to three years. A great wine to serve as a aperitif or with a fish course or light pasta dish.

Alcohol: 12.5%

pH: 3.2

TA: 6.5

R/Sugar: 3g/l