te Pa Reserve Collection St. Leonard's Chardonnay 2018

Lemon meringue and citrus aromatics are supported by primary aromas of peach and fig with subtle jasmine and citrus blossom florals.

Some high-quality oak adds a wisp of smoke and some vanilla, flint, and caramel notes. The palate is beautifully textured, with almond, citrus rind, and spice flavours sprinkled over a core of crème brülée. A subtle oyster shell minerality gives way to a long lingering finish.

Naturally low-cropping mature vine Mendoza is planted in the well-drained sandy silt/loam and clay/loam soils of this excellent chardonnay vineyard.

The fruit was handpicked and transported to the winery where it was whole bunch-pressed. The juice was left to settle very briefly before being racked to barrel with high solids.

Once in barrel it was inoculated with non-saccharomyces yeast strains to add complexity and mouthfeel to the naturally occurring citrus and stone fruit expressions we get from this site. Natural, full malo-lactic fermentation occurred in spring.

A selection of the six best barrels (1/2 of which were new) was made in February for this premium reserve wine. This wine was left in barrel until early March before being racked to tank for settling over the following vintage. Three months later the wine was racked and bottled, without fining or filtration.