2020 Grower's Series Oaked Chardonnay

Vintage: 2020

Variety or Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Niagara Peninsula

Vine Age: 10-25 years

Soil: Clay and loam with some sand, limestone and seashells

Wine Style: Dry

Oak: French Oak fermented and aged for 12 months, 20% New Oak

Alcohol Content: 12.5%

PH: 3.5

TA: 5.7 g/L

Ageing: Drink now through 2027

Serving Temperature: 10 - 16 degrees Celsius

Winemaking:

These grapes were 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 majority of this blend goes into our 1100 litre French Oak cask where it was monitored and tasted for 10 months, before any sulphur additions took place. The remainder of chardonnay in this blend went into barrels that were carefully selected and monitored for 10 months. After aging was complete, specific barrels were selected from different vineyard lots to create the blend. All selected barrels were blended into tank where the blend was cold stabilized, gently fined and lightly filtered to preserve the wine without stripping the flavours and textures, before bottling.

Appearance: 

Bright pale straw with a clear hue.

Aroma:

Fresh and focused aromas of green apple, pear and citrus fruits. Followed by a medley of stone fruits with subtle notes of toast, vanilla and honeysuckle.

Palate:

This wine is crisp, clean, concentrated and smooth. An easy drinking, medium bodied style of Chardonnay focused on bright yellow stone fruits with a soft and round texture. Lingering finish on a light toast revealing nuances of vanilla beans and toasted almonds. A great wine to pair with roasted chicken, blue cheese or a baked salmon.