Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre

The Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre is very different to the usual fruit-driven, drink now style Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blancs. It has been inspired by the white wines of Bordeaux, wines which do not rely on primary fruit flavours but have layers of complexity and interest from the use of techniques such as barrel fermentation, wild yeast and time on lees.

In November 2008, we held a tasting looking at seven of Bordeaux’s best white wines alongside seven Australian Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends made in the more complex style. Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier travelled from France for the event and bought with him a vertical of his Bordeaux Blancs going back to 1979. This tasting demonstrated to us a number of things, firstly just how intriguing, complex and well structured these wine can be, secondly that this style makes a much better food wine than the more simple fruit driven styles of SSB, and finally the outstanding ageing ability of these wines. It is these factors which have inspired us to make the Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre.