2018 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Alcohol: 13.5%

Total Acidity: 7.1g/L

pH: 3.25

Vintage Conditions: 2018 was a fantastic year for the Adelaide Hills region with high natural acidities and excellent varietal character. After a cold, wet winter, spring weather conditions were mild and unstable but resulted in no lasting damage to vines. A long, dry growing season through to vintage provided ideal ripening conditions resulting in wines with good tannin, balanced acid and depth in flavour.

Vinification: The fruit was de-stemmed and pressed to first and second fill French oak barrels. Fermentation took place with wild yeast in a number of barrels while the remainder were inoculated with Burgundian yeast strains, allowing partial malolactic fermentation. Post ferment, the wine was kept on lees for 12 months with stirring to promote complexity before clarification, light filtration and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Colour: Light golden straw colour with green hues.

Aroma: The wine has a complex nose displaying fresh stone fruit, white peach and lemon curd.

Palate: The palate displays nutmeg, lime and lychee flavours accompanied by subtle butterscotch flavours derived through the oak maturation process. Hints of fresh fruit and delicate mineral notes compliment the soft, creamy mouthfeel. Texture and complexity, along with a balanced elegant structure, completes this compelling wine.

Peak drinking: Very approachable now, but careful cellaring will allow further development with bottle age up to 7-8 years.