2011 Chardonnay

VINTAGE
Above average rainfall during winter, and colder spring soil temperatures contributed to a slow bud burst, delivering shorter shoot growth up to flowering in November. Several rainfall events over the November/December period proved challenging to our viticulturist, with healthy vine canopies and some mildew control, the primary focus. Good leaf fruit ratios and slow ripening conditions have contributed to ideal flavour development of this wine.

WINEMAKING
The chardonnay was machine picked at night in several batches over about 7 days, with baumes averaging 11.5 degrees, a little lower than we would normally choose to pick. The grapes were crushed, cold settled and the juice lightly fined with milk powder then clarified to retain some solids in the juice for fermentation. Some of the batches were fermented with french oak while others batches were tank fermented. After maturation the wines were blended, stabalised and filtered for bottling.

COLOUR
Pale straw.

BOUQUET
Fresh citrus and green nectarine aromas with a touch of spicy oak.

PALATE
Fresh citrus, green nectarine, spicy oak and crisp green apple flavours deliver a fresh yet generous flavour persistence.

SUGGESTED FOOD
Fresh salmon and a creamy herb sauce.

CELLARING
Made to drink young and fresh and will reward with careful cellaring in the short term.