Aotea Nelson Chardonnay 2018

Awards

94 Points - Cameron Douglas MS, September 2019
91 Points - Bob Campbell MW, © The Real Review,
therealreview.com, October 2019

Wine Analysis

Vineyard: Seifried Brightwater Vineyard
Sugar at Harvest: 23.9°Brix
Date of Harvest: 22 March 2018
pH of Wine: 3.47
T.A of Wine: 7.4g/L
Residual Sugar of Wine: dry 1.4g/L
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans: Yes

The Vineyard

This single vineyard Chardonnay comes from the stony soils of our Brightwater vineyard. The ground is free draining, friable and easy to work, giving a light and intensely varietal crop. The canopy was extensively leaf plucked during the summer while the grapes were developing, allowing light and air movement around the fruit zone and helping to develop lovely citrus and passionfruit flavours.

Winemakers Note

Our winemakers set aside this tiny parcel of handpicked Chardonnay for this special wine. Whole clusters of fruit were loaded into the press and a gentle pressing cycle was set. Juice was drained directly to new barrels for aan indigenous yeast fermentation. Partial malolactic fermentation followed and the wine was left to age on lees in the barrel for a further 12 months. In late march 2019 the wine was pulled from the four barrels and blended. The wine had gentle filtration and was bottled in June 2019.

Tasting Note

The 2018 Aotea Nelson Chardonnay is a tiny blend of just four barrels which our winemakers set aside. It was all handpicked and had indigenous yeast fermentation in new oak. The wine is a statement wine with bright fruity, nutty oak and a long minerally finish. One to tuck away and savour.

“Bold, fresh, ripe, varietal and expressive bouquet with aromas of oak spices and baked stone fruits, grapefruit and a touch of quince. ”
94 Points - Cameron Douglas MS, September 2019