Akarua Chardonnay 2022

Bright pale golden straw with clear hues. A complex nose of stone fruit, flint, and toffee. The palate is full and dry with sweet peach, nectarine, citrus and biscotti. Showing nice weight, complexity, and bright acidity. Finishes long with lingering stone fruit. Cellaring through 2027.

VINEYARDS Kawarau (Bannockburn) 62% Clones: 15 and 6, varying rootstocks Aspect: north/north west sloping elevated glacial terrace Row orientation: east/west Soil: weakly structured light alluvial soils overlaying schist rock Vine age: 22 years Trellis system & pruning: VSP, spur

Pisa 38% Clones: 6, Mendoza, own rootstocks, certified organic Aspect: flat and level river terrace created by glacial activity Row orientation: north/south Soil: fine silt loam over schist based alluvial gravels Vine age: 25 years Trellis system & pruning: VSP, spur

VINIFICATION Whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented, bottled unfined Yeast: wild / Burgundy yeast strain, 90% malolactic fermentation Fermentation: <20°, 3 weeks Oak: 1-12 year old barrels, 5% new, Gillet/Saury/Francois Freres Lees: 10 months, once monthly battonage