Technical Analysis
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza.
Tasting note
Aromatics of baked goods & almond paste. Underpinned by grapefruit, lemon zest, apple, and oyster shell. The palate shows finesse beautifully balanced with power and energy, leading to a rich, generous finish accentuated with signature fine-grained oak
Vintage conditions
2021 started with a harsh frost which greatly reduced yield before a long dry summer settled in, which meant
clean fruit and beautiful acidity. The dry autumn meant that fruit ripened evenly, and the flavour concentration was very noticeable. The fruit was harvested in the cool of the early morning to retain freshness and acidity
Vinification details
The Chardonnay blocks are hand-picked and processed without the use of additives. Each block is fermented separately in French oak barriques (31% new) without intervention allowing for a natural, primary, and malo-lactic fermentation through to completion. Barrel aged for 10 months before estate bottling without fining.
Technical Analysis
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza.
Tasting note
Pale lemon in colour with aromas of ripe nectarine and pink grapefruit. Toasted almonds and bran appear with some fine blossom too. Rich mouth-feel with exotic spice and lemon pith, balanced with a lengthy mineral spine.
Vintage conditions
2020 was a great year for Chardonnay in North Canterbury, an early warm spring without frost followed by good flowering. A gentle Autumn allowed even ripening before harvest. Organically
managed, the combination of under-vine cultivation & fewer irrigation cycles has driven the Chardonnay roots deep into the soil. The Chardonnay is a blend of two main vineyard blocks. One block is limestone dominant, while the other is clay.
Vinification details
The hand-picked Chardonnay blocks are processed without the use of additives, pressing the Limestone block as whole bunches and the Clay block after foot crushing first. Each block was fermented separately in French oak barriques without intervention, allowing the wild yeasts and bacteria to perform primary and malo-lactic fermentation through to completion. Barrel aged for 10 months before estate bottled without fining.
Technical Analysis
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza.
Tasting note
Pale lemon in colour. Aromatics of brioche, roasted cashew and corn husk, underpinned by lime zest, fennel fronds, and pink grapefruit. The palate is expansive and rich, with crisp citrus zing and a generous finish with signature fine-grained oak.
Vintage conditions
2019 was a small year for Chardonnay, due to limited flowering which required careful shoot selection and meticulous canopy management, allowing the best fruit to ripen over a settled autumn. Organically managed, the combination of undervine cultivation and fewer irrigation cycles has driven the Chardonnay roots deep into the soil.
Vinification details
The Chardonnay blocks are hand picked and processed without the use of additives. The Limestone block is pressed as whole bunches and the Clay block pressed after foot crushing. Each block was fermented separately in French oak barriques without intervention, allowing the wild yeasts and bacteria to perform primary and malo-lactic fermentation through to completion. Then barrel aged for 10 months before estate bottling without fining.
Technical Analysis
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza.
Tasting note
Aromatically inviting with golden kiwifruit, nashi with mild oak and coconut husk. The palate is full with generous flavours supported by fine grained oak phenolics and ripe acidity.
Vintage conditions
2018 was a generous year for Chardonnay, with careful shoot selection and meticulous canopy management, the best fruit was able to ripen perfectly over the long warm autumn.
Vinification details
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza. B95 is known for its big bunches and consistent performance, while Mendoza is known for its small, open grape bunches, intense citrus flavours and chalky minerality.
Grapes were hand-picked and processed without the use of additives. The Limestone block was pressed as whole bunches, the Clay block pressed after foot crushing. Each block was fermented separately in French oak barriques without intervention, allowing the wild yeasts and bacteria to perform primary and malolactic fermentation through to completion. Barrel aged for 11 months before tank ageing for 3 months. Estate bottled without fining.
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza.
Tasting note
Golden in colour, this Chardonnay opens up in the glass to reveal stone fruit, citrus and subtle oak flavours, underscored by minerality from the limestone soils.
Vintage conditions
2017 was a low cropping vintage, which lead to more intensely flavoured fruit.
Vinification details
The Chardonnay is a blend of two blocks and two clones – clone 95 and Mendoza. B95 is known for its big bunches and consistent performance. While Mendoza is known for its small, open grape bunches, intense citrus flavours and chalky minerality.
The Chardonnay blocks were picked separately before whole-bunch pressing each portion separately. The individual portions were kept separate and transferred into French Oak barriques (20% new) where they went through a wild fermentation over several months and a subsequent natural malolactic fermentation in mid-Summer. The wine was aged in barrel without racking for 11 months before estate bottling without fining.
