Chardonnay 2020

Bright yet elegant, fully-concentrated aroma of tropical fruit, pineapple with layers of peach and nectarine and spicy oak, a clean and textured wine showing lifted aromatics and freshness. Medium-bodied, a firm and concentrated core of fresh acidity with ripe fruit and a smooth texture adding smoothness to the palate. Medium bodied and ripely textured displaying vibrant fruit, freshness with expressive toasty oak and citrus notes. Full with a rich smooth core and firm acidity giving length.

Single vineyard wine, 100% Clone 15. Planted in 2005, in Gisborne. Pruned to 4 cane VSP. All the grapes used for this wine are grown on a sustainable viticulture approved site.

The grapes were gently machine harvested and sorted, gently pressed reductively with the juice being clarified via floatation, racked directly to ferment post float. Fermentation was conducted at an average of 16 degrees C to retain as much primary character and build as much texture as possible, the wine was fermented in tank and barrique receiving 24% new oak to ensure vibrancy and complexity in the wine. Ferment lasted approximately 3 weeks. Just prior to completing fermentation, the wine was racked off primary solids, but left on light lee for an extended period.

24% new oak used, 30% American, 70% French