Rapaura Springs Reserve Chardonnay 2021

Our Rapaura Springs Reserve Chardonnay is rich and flavourful. Each bottle is bursting with honeysuckle, white peach, nectarine and fresh citrus, all complemented by toasty vanilla and subtly spiced oak characters.

Fruit for our 2021 Reserve Chardonnay is grown predominately in the Southern Valleys sub-region. 2021 was a unique vintage, one of the earliest and shortest on record. The growing season was the third in a series of drought vintages, and the stress on the vines was compounded by a huge wind run. The combination of some early frost events and poor flowering resulted in lower yields and smaller bunches than usual. This, combined with the dry conditions, has meant that disease levels are incredibly low this year, resulting in better flavours and pristine fruit. We’re thrilled with the concentration and intensity of flavour in our 2021 wines.

After the Chardonnay was harvested, the fruit was pressed and the juice fermented with 25% new oak. A secondary malolactic fermentation has softened the wine and added extra texture and complexity to the palate.