Description
Showcasing the myriad of flavour profiles that come from the free-draining soils of the Gravels and Crownthorpe in Hawkes Bay, this is a Chardonnay with substance, elegance and complexity.
Produced with a combination of indigenous and cultured yeast strains, each barrel in this blend has contributed its own unique, savoury characteristic while highlighting the pure stone fruit and almond meal flavours that define the Mendoza and 15 clones of Hawkes Bay Chardonnay.
Whole bunch pressed, and lightly settled, half of the juice retained a significant portion of solids when rolled to French oak barriques for fermentation. Left to ferment with no winemaking intervention, savoury cashew, biscuit and spice cruxes add layers of interest to the citrus rind and nectarine kernel flavours from the grapes. The palate is generous in both weight and flavour with a firm oak structure that gives the wine some shoulders.
9 months in barrel with regular lees stirring has imparted a creamy texture, which will develop a subtle oiliness in bottle. Reductive, popcorn and gunflint notes also provide a subtle, natural sweetness that offsets the fresh acidity.
Richness that forever evolves in both glass and bottle – this is modern Hawkes Bay Chardonnay.
Awards & Accolades:
5 Stars Wine Orbit, 4.5 Stars Michael Cooper, Premium (92 points) Cameron Douglas.
