Exceptional Small-Batch Wines from one of Western Australia's Premier Estates

Since the 1990s, our vineyard has earned acclaim for its exceptional small-batch wines, contributing to Western Australia's most prestigious labels. The estate's renowned 'Hill Block' Chardonnay exemplifies our commitment to excellence, a legacy that has flourished under Below&Above's stewardship since 2013. Under the masterful guidance of acclaimed winemaker Bruce Dukes, our wines eloquently express the unique characteristics of the Pemberton region through meticulous small-batch craftsmanship.

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Small Batch Excellence: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot

 At Below & Above, our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot wines are crafted from naturally low-yield vines, ensuring exceptional quality. Only the finest five percent of grapes from our 34 hectares of vineyards are hand-selected to create distinctly small batch, boutique wines that reflect the unique terroir of Western Australia.

Wines Are Made in the Vineyard. We firmly believe that the foundation of exceptional wine lies in the vineyard. By nurturing our vines and maintaining the highest standards for fruit quality, we ensure every wine we produce begins with the best possible fruit. In the winery, Bruce refines and finesse this quality, allowing the natural attributes of the fruit to shine in every bottle.

Owners John &  Evdokia Klepec through the use of new world winemaking techniques, they continue to craft varietally correct, world-class wines that celebrate the estate’s history and its potential for producing fine wine.

Recent vineyard upgrades include:

  • 6.6 hectares of Gingin Chardonnay
  • Coveted Pinot clones: 114, 115, 777, and G8V3
  • 1.2 hectares of close-planted  and low to the ground Pinot clone 667
  • Merlot clones 181 and Q45v14 closely planted low to the ground

Regenerative Practices
 Thella Estate employs regenerative farming techniques wherever possible, ensuring minimal environmental impact while prioritizing the quality of our fruit and wines.

Commitment to Excellence
At Below & Above, we leave nothing to chance. Every vine, every grape, and every decision reflects our dedication to rarity, quality of origin, and impeccable winemaking. By putting the fruit first, our wines embody the best of what Western Australia’s Pemberton region has to offer.

Aged for Perfection
To guarantee an exceptional drinking experience, our wines undergo careful bottle aging before release. This patient approach allows each wine to develop its ideal expression, resulting in greater complexity, perfect balance, and remarkable depth. When a Below&Above wine reaches your glass, it represents not just the finest of Western Australia's Pemberton region, but the culmination of our unwavering dedication to quality.

For inquiries about our wines or to arrange a private tasting, please contact us at sales@belowandabove.com.au

Production Notes

2020 Pinot Noir

Hand-picked at first light on the 22nd February 2020, 17 days earlier than the historical median conditions would predict for our vineyard. This is now our fourth vintage of our new planted pinot noir clones of 667,777,114,115 and G8V3(Martini). This vintage had lower (less than half) proportions of 667 as crows removed one exposed block in the narrow window of net removal and harvest and 114 clone block down on bunch weight and number.

This and subsequent vintages to 2023 are demonstrating the additional year of vine age and the individuality of each clone (114 in this vintage) to the seasonal conditions.

An open fermenter was one quarter filled with whole clusters, essential to the development of flavour and perfume, and the remaining clusters de-stemmed only.

The berries were not crushed, and 10 per cent of free-run juice was drained off before fermentation in order to enhance concentration. After cold soaking for two days, the must was allowed to warm and seeded with yeast.

The ferment was punched down by hand several times a day gradually breaking the whole bunches toward the end of the process, allowing for the gentle flow of sugars; keeping the wine fresh and pure.

The wine was gently pressed into 500 litre French Oak puncheons: 1/4 new and matured on the lees for 10 months to create our house spicy and perfumed-style Pinot Noir. The 2020 Pinot Noir is a blend of all five clones noting the above change from previous years and was bottled on 11th February 2021. Total of 4,150 bottles.

Tasting notes

A seductive perfumed nose of rose petals and vanilla spice like characters. The silky and smooth palate is medium-bodied with masculine cherry flavours with the closure all spice. Combined with delicate soft tannins reaches effortlessly to a long finish. It has the structure and balance to handle further aging.

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2020 Chardonnay SOLD OUT

Hand-picked immediately following the Pinot Noir on 22nd February 2020 reflecting the warm dry vintage where both varieties are ready on the same day rather than a week gap.

Our Gingin clone Chardonnay particularly excelled in the dryer conditions without any late season botrytis pressure was produced the same as previous vintages using whole cluster pressing; a slow process that creates refined juice with lovely preservation of the fruit characters.

The wine was fermented and matured sur lie (on lees) in 228 litre French Oak barrels sourced from the Allier and Vosges forests: 1/3 new, for 10 months with partial malolactic fermentation to achieve natural balance in acidity.

Fortnightly batonnage was applied until September, to enhance texture and complexity, and then reduced to monthly as the wine developed. The 2020 Chardonnay was racked from barrel, settled and bottled on 10th February 2021. Total of 2,450 bottles.

Tasting notes

A complex nose of apricot, nectarine and custard apple. A balanced reduction of struck matchstick in harmony with oak. The palate is a multi-layered mix of savoury fruit intensity, toasty oak and spices. The lean and clean acidity through the middle takes it to a very long dry savoury precise finish. Delicious to drink now and will continue to develop further over the years to come as per the previous vintages.

Merlot 2019

The third vintage of our new merlot clones benefited from the bunches and berries both being relatively small in size and number for merlot so the young vines can continue their excellent development. We are excited by the progress of merlot from both the 181 and Q45V14 clones and also the subsequent vintages that have followed. Our estate fruit was picked at first light on 28th March 2019. The pristine fruit was gently destemmed as whole berries into an open fermenter and allowed to cold-soak for 12 hours before draining off ten percent of the “free run” juice to further enhance concentration before fermentation. The fruit was cool fermented at 24⁰C, with gentle hand plunges 3 times a day to allow a gentle flow of sugar from the fruit and gradual controlled release of tannin. After 15 days on skin the wine was gently separated from the skins and transferred to French oak barrels sourced from the Allier, Tronçais and Jupilles forests, 1/3 of which were new. After 10 months of maturation of on fine lees, the individual barrels were blended and clarified before being bottled on the 11th February 2020. Total of 3,800 bottles.

Tasting notes

Seductive perfumed aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and chocolate. The palate has a structure of fine tannin, dark red fruits and an earthy red gravel feel. A beautifully balanced Merlot with a bold grip that will age well. 

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What others are saying

  • 2020 Chardonnay

    A wine that continues to show the growing complexity and expression of this smaller producer in Pemberton. This is the most intense and complex yet. Notes of lemon curd and brioche with a roasted cashew infusion. It’s creamy but with a fine and precise linear minerality that helps focus the long finish. Incredibly long palate profile.

    Score: 95/100 – Cellar: 10 years‍

    Ray Jordan

  • 2020 Pinot Noir

    Clearly the best pinot noir yet from Below & Above. The aromas are immediately compelling and complex with a sour cherry, dark plum and spicy combination working with some slightly truffle like characters. The palate is lash and textured with a smooth integrated mouth feel. Layers of wild fruits tightened with a fine chalky tannin factor. Lots to like here.

    Score: 96/100 – Cellar: 9 years‍

  • 2019 Merlot

    A really encouraging merlot that shows the progress these guys have made with this variety in recent years. This is no soft and mushy fruit bomb merlot. This is a merlot loaded with dark fruits and supported with structured tannin and fine oak balance. Beautifully poised and balanced with a slightly gravelly influence adding to the textural feel.

    Score: 95/100 – Cellar: 10 years‍‍

  • 2020 Chardonnay

    Waiting on Techs. Creamy on the nose, golden, white florals, lemon drop curd, and freshly whipped butter. Reduction is balanced – flint in harmony with the minerality and wet stone. Bit of curry leaf and dried ginger. Nice to have some age on this pre-release. Generous mouth feel but a lovely linear shape and drive. Tension, breadth and peach skin texture. Wrapped up in, but not overpowered by oak. More spices here again – coriander seed and a little cumin. A well-crafted chardonnay. Nougat. Crushed almond. A few flickers of spring growth. The finish has real flint, with an almost umami edge of toast edge.  Butter on toast – crunchy yet creamy and melt in your mouth. A harmony of sensation. Long acid thread keeps this taught. Great length. Just yum.

    Rated: 94.5 Points‍‍

    Cassandra Charlick – Wine Pilot

  • 2020 Pinot Noir

    Waiting on Techs. Earthy and aches of undergrowth and autumnal decay. Red fruits simmer underneath, but this is not a fruit-forward wine. red peppercorns, bundles of spice. Clove, aniseed, crushed pepper, incense. Mushroom and umami. Marmite and crushed graphite. Crushed leaves underfoot. A hint of cured meat, just enough reduction to keep this balanced. Palate is super silky and smooth. Melting tannins. Length, interest and balance. A mid-weight pinot with delicate tannins that belie this. Good length. Nice oak use. Simmering acidity holds tension.

    Rated: 93 Points‍‍

  • 2019 Merlot 13.8%

    Waiting on Techs. Plush yet reserved in the glass. Crushed eucalypt, mulberry and deep red fruits. Ruby-hued velvet comes to mind. Crushed red gravel on the nose. Earthy and a little dusty. Tannins are firm yet inviting. Merlot is all about shape yet softness. A little more fruit on the palate, a boost of freshness from cranberry-like acid lift. Dark chocolate mint crisp. Balanced, yet safe and not as lengthy a stay as expected.

    Paul Edwards - The West Australian Newspaper