Jane and Peter Thompson purchased the Thompson Estate property in 1994, and the first plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were in 1997, followed by the Cabernet plantings in 1998. New plantings include new Burgundian clones of Chardonnay, a total of 20 hectares under vine.
The vineyard gains unique advantages from its Wilyabrup location. Wilyabrup has the ideal number of sun exposure days per year for optimal ripening, and is surrounded by sea on three sides on the South West cape of Western Australia, allowing the cooling maritime breezes to keep the fruit cool and add intensity of flavours similar to the great years of the Bordeaux region of France. Thompson Estate and its immediate neighbours in Wilyabrup produce some of Australia’s “icon status” Chardonnays and Cabernets.
Where did the name for the Four Chambers label come from?
Peter Thompson: As a heart specialist, I have spent a professional career learning (still learning) how a balanced contribution of each of the Four Chambers of the heart is essential to the balance of life. Wine also demands a balance of viticulture, winemaking, maturation and presentation. The Four Chambers project recognizes my parallel careers of cardiologist and vigneron. The efficiency and strict discipline of a professional career is never lost and I certainly try to keep my finger on the pulse at each stage of the process to ensure that everything flows smoothly and strongly. The joy of making wine in Margaret River can liberate a certain passion and creativity which the Four Chambers label expresses.