Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Growing Region: Central Otago, New Zealand

Chief Winemaker: Matt Connell

TASTING NOTE:
The fruit for this wine was grown and sourced from their Akarua estate vineyards, which is situated on an elevated glacial terrace on light alluvial soils overlaying schist rock, which offers ideal conditions to maintain grapevines with a modest crop load to produce clean, concentrated varietal fruit, resulting in grapes and wine of consistently high quality. The vines have now reached 16 years of age, and this matured can be seen it the seams and layers of the well balanced wine.

When Matt and his vineyard team were have with the fruit flavour profile, for the 2013 vintage, that was such a special vintage for the whole of the country. The fruit was pressed has whole bunches, and various yeast options were used for different parcels to retain and express the specific characters in the fruit. After careful vinification of the wine, 10% of the wine then saw time in oak barrels, again to support and give a platform for the fruit to be able to shine on the palate.

In the glass you have a pale golden colour with a bright shimmer gliding across the surface all the way to the edge. On the nose you have citrus notes, crisp apple, with hints of tropical fruit and a subtle mineral note. On the palate you have a medium weight Chardonnay showing ripe pip fruit flavours are entwined with delicate oak and mineral notes, this 2013 has good power with a smooth-texture and an appealing persistent, clean finish. Chill and serve at 8-10C.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this summer season; and over the next 2-3 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine pairing with grilled chicken salad, crumbed fish and young, soft cheeses, enjoy.

A confident Chardonnay in an elegant style.