Domaine Naturaliste: A Joy to Taste

The last winery on my Margaret River road trip did not disappoint.  For me, Domaine Naturaliste is synonymous with their Artus Chardonnay and I was eager to retaste it as well as try some of their other wines.

Domaine Naturaliste 2021 Morus Cabernet Sauvignon

This was Domaine Naturaliste’s stand out red wine for me.  After the reduction blew off, there were wonderful notes of forest floor, tomato stalk, veal broth, deep black plum, blackberry, old polished wood, lead pencil shavings and char.  On the palate, the tannins were closely integrated with the veal broth flavour.  Graphite, dried mulberry, over-ripe tomato and raisin flavours came through.

This was a really interesting, big and complex wine.

Rating: Bloody Delish    Price AUD 76

Domaine Naturaliste 2023 Artus Chardonnay

My first sniff of this wine gave me a big butter, butterscotch, oak, yellow grapefruit and yellow peach hit.  It had a gorgeous soft mouthfeel - very round and full in the mouth but not oily or overblown.  Hints of lemon zest came through, which gave this wine freshness and balanced the sumptuousness of the butter and butterscotch flavours.  The oak was definitely there but it was not suppressing the fruit; instead adding complexity to the wine.  Beautifully balanced with good fruit concentration.  My friend, who is normally not a fan of wooded chardonnay, also loved it.

Rating:  Bloody Delish     Price: AUD 66

All six wines we tasted were in silver or gold medal territory.  It was a joy to do this tasting and these wines are incredibly good value for such quality wines.