2019 Estate Chardonnay

Vintage: 2019

Variety or Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyard Designation: Estate Vineyard

Region: Hockley Valley

Wine Age: 4-6 years

Soil: Mostly sand and loam with limestone and some gravel

Wine Style: Dry

Oak: French Oak fermented and aged for 10 months, 50% New Oak

Alcohol Content: 12.0%

PH: 3.17

TA: 8.7 g/L

RS: 3.1 g/L

Ageing: Drink now through 2028

Serving Temperature: 10 - 16 degrees Celsius

Winemaking:

These grapes were harvested by hand with specific timing that incorporated ripe fruit flavours and fresh acidity.  We hand harvested and whole cluster pressed the grapes in our gentle bladder press.  A long, slow press cycle was used to allow maximum juice yield without compromising flavour extraction.  The juice was cold settled in a stainless tank before racking into barrels for alcoholic and malolactic fermentations.  The barrel was carefully monitored and tasted for 10 months, before any sulphur additions took place.  After aging was complete the barrel was racked into tank where it settled with a light bentonite fining. A very light filtration took place, which prevented any stripping of the flavours and textures, before bottling.

Aroma:

Floral honeysuckle, honeydew melon and citrus with hints of vanilla and white peach. Underlying notes of fresh apples, cream, honey and toast, round out the complex aromas showcased by this wine.

Appearance:

A bright golden straw colour with silver hues.

Palate:

An intense wine with elegance and structure. Focused, tight and fruit-driven
on the palate. Many layers and complexity have you going back for another taste: fresh flavours of apple, pear, plum, lemon are on the forefront of the palate while toasty lees and oak add structure throughout. Fruit-driven on the entry of the palate followed by focused minerality and crisp, balanced acidity. This very ageable wine is well balanced and has a light-medium weight with a lingering finish. Underlying hints of apricot skin round out this complex and tightly focused chardonnay. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak, 50% new oak, this wine holds it well with the fruit focused flavours, concentrated intensity and a backbone of acidity. This refreshing Chardonnay drinks well on its own and pairs with fresh seafood and barbecued chicken.