Our top Chardonnay, the 2015 Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay, has received the coveted titles of WA’s ‘White Wine of the Year’ and ‘Chardonnay of the Year’ in The West Australian Wine Guide 2018 by Ray Jordan. This is the second time that Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay has been ranked Jordan’s top Chardonnay, following on from the 2011 vintage being named ‘Wine of the Year’ in his 2015 edition.

Awarding the 2015 Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay 98 points, Ray Jordan said that the competition for the best Chardonnay was intense. “After endless deliberations, I went for the Devils Lair 9th Chamber. It's made in a delicate and most restrained manner, yet you can't take the essential power and intensity out of a Margaret River wine. This is so precise with a white peach and grapefruit intensity carrying to a very long finish.”

Devil’s Lair Chief Winemaker, Ben Miller, said it was a terrific endorsement to be reviewed so favourably by someone of Ray’s prestige and knowledge of WA wine.
“Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine made only in standout vintages. Made entirely from one block of Chardonnay grown on our estate, we select the 10 best resulting barriques to give the ultimate expression of Devil’s Lair Chardonnay in Margaret River,” Ben said.

“We’re looking for a clean and pure style – with intense pink grapefruit and white nectarine complemented by an underlay of nougat creaminess, balance and poise.

“Since its first vintage in 2009, minimal oak influence has been a signature of 9th Chamber Chardonnay – we ferment and mature the wine in one year old French oak to give the purest expression of Chardonnay. In 2015 we took this a step further by only using one type of French oak barrique from one Cooperage in Beaune in the Côte d'Or, taking inspiration from many Grand Cru Burgundy wines. The resulting wine really is a reflection of the great work from Simon Robertson and our viticulture team,” Ben said.

Now in its 17th year, The 2018 West Australian Wine Guide is the definitive guide on West Australian wine, written by leading Australian wine writer, Ray Jordan. First published in 2002, this annual wine guide includes more than 500 reviews from nine regions, covering the breadth and beauty of Western Australia’s finest wines.

All Devil’s Lair wines reviewed in the 2018 Guide received 90 points or above:

• Devil’s Lair The Hidden Cave Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016, 90 points
• Devil’s Lair The Hidden Cave Chardonnay 2016, 92 points
• Devil’s Lair Margaret River Chardonnay 2015, 95 points
• Devil’s Lair Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, 96 points
• Devil’s Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay 2015, 98 points