Our Chardonnay vines grow in three blocks on our Defiance vineyard chosen for the quality of soils and underlying gravels. Our Chardonnay clones (809, 1066 and 548) are the three great clones used by the French Grand Crus of Corton-Charlemagne - considered to represent some of the finest white burgundies. These three clones are designed for blending, with 548 and 1066 producing full bodied wines with complex aromas, the addition of 5 - 10% of 809 provides muscat aromas and a fine well balanced structure.
The grapes were hand harvested on the 28th March and 6th April 2019 from our Defiance vineyard and were whole bunch pressed to tank before being transferred to French oak barriques to undergo barrel fermentation. Aged in French oak barriques (22% new oak) for 9 months the wine was regularly lees stirred with 40% completing malolactic fermentation.
Our Chardonnay is dry in style, and pale straw with lemon hues in colour. The nose has fragrant aromas of apricot, melon, grapefruit, marzipan, honey, caramel and freesia. Rich and mouth filling the palate is dry ripe nectarine, peach and apricot. A complex wine with balanced acidity, appealing salinity and a long finish.
" Fantastic on the palate with flavours of citrus and stone fruit...a lovely wine to enjoy with or without food. Drink now or cellar through to 2028+". Cam Douglas
"Bright light lemon/green, it is fragrant and full bodied with strong vibrant peachy, citrusy flavours, hints of toast and butterscotch, and very good depth, complexity and harmony." Michael Cooper
Variety | 100% Chardonnay |
Appellation | Central Otago |
Sub Region | Felton Rd, Bannockburn |
Vineyard | Defiance |
Harvest Date | 28th March & 6th April 2019 |
Alcohol | 14% |
Residual Sugar | Nil |
pH | 3.29 |
TA | 5.32g/l |
Cam Douglas MS: 96pts
Winestate - Michael Cooper:
Bob Campbell - The Real Review:
NZ Wine Rater: Highly commended - 90+ pts
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