The heart of the Australian collection is the estate Mount Barrow Vineyard, planted by the Burch Family in 2005 and much admired by Pascal Marchand on his visit to Western Australia the following year. The vineyard faces south to the formidable Southern Ocean, its unique microclimate meets an ancient geology where gravel and granite combine to test the resilience of the maturing vines. It is this struggle which gives expression and character in the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that speak solely of this environment and nowhere else.
The Australian collection now comprises five wines: The Villages wines are exuberant, varietal and ready to drink. The Villages Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are crafted from the younger vines at the bottom of the Mount Barrow vineyard and are matured in tanks and larger format old oak barrels to emphasis vibrancy and fruit freshness. The Villages Rosé is a homage to the Provençal style and uses Pinot Noir and old vine Grenache to convey the delicate, alluring, spicy and mineral characters which makes these wines so unashamedly enjoyable.
At the top of vineyard, which rises to 380 metres above sea level, the original plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are maturing into their second decade, and comprise a selection of prized French clones along with the revered Gin Gin clone of Chardonnay which has been planted in Western Australia for over fifty years. These vines give rise to the two wines that express the aspiration and achievement of the Australian Collection, the Mount Barrow Pinot Noir and Mount Barker Chardonnay. Fruit of great presence and depth can handle some carefully selected new French oak to enhance structure and cellaring potential, without masking the varietal character or the voice of the terroir. These two wines represent the ongoing dream of Jeff Burch to unlock the full potential of the Great Southern and have been appreciated in their evolution by lovers of fine wine and esteemed critics over the last decade.
For more information and reviews of the Australian collection, and to purchase the wines, visit the product pages of the individual wines in our online shop. And check out our blog for stories about the history and exciting future of the Mount Barrow Vineyard.
The Australian Collection wines are:
Village Rosé
Village Chardonnay
Mount Barker Chardonnay
Village Pinot Noir
Mount Barrow Pinot Noir
