Old Coach Road
Nelson Unoaked Chardonnay 2010
Awards
• Recommended by Winestate Magazine, Australia, 2011
Wine Analysis
Vineyard: Seifried Rabbit Island Vineyard
Sugar at Harvest: 23.8°Brix
Date of Harvest: 9,10,12,15 April 2010
T.A of Wine: 6.8g/L
PH of Wine: 3.61
ABV: 14.5%
The Vineyard
Our Rabbit Island vineyards are situated on a wide river flat. The soil is made up of gravelly sandy loam, which marks the sites of Maori kumara beds (sweet potato) prior to European settlement in the early 1800’s. The Maori transferred and spread fine gravel and sand over the land to provide suitable soils for their kumara plantings. Scrub was burned to give ash and charcoal, which increased soil fertility and gave characteristic topsoil. This fertility is now considerably reduced due to modern farming. The soils are however very sandy and free draining and the water table is relatively high ensuring adequate underground water. These vineyards are about 1.5 kilometres from the sea, which helps moderate summer temperatures.
Winemakers Note
Traditionally Chardonnay is made in an oaked style, however, we are often asked: what does Chardonnay as a grape variety with no oak ageing taste like? This is it! The grapes were picked, pressed, then the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks to capture the natural tropical fruit characters of the grape variety, without influence from oak. The wine was blended and bottled in July.
The 2010 vintage was a great one in Nelson. Despite a late and cool spring, the majority of the growing season delivered good conditions. This was particularly true during the period when the grapes were ripening during the harvest period. This meant the grapes were picked in optimal condition with very low disease pressure.
Tasting Note
Our Unoaked Chardonnay allows the Chardonnay fruit characters to shine through without oak interference. It has ripe peach and tropical flavours with delicate floral notes in the background. The wine has good entry to the palate with fullness and texture from a period on lees, but without the heavy oak influence.
Bottle Size: 750ml
Sorry, all sold out in New Zealand
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