We're excited to release the 2023 Chardonnay. It was an incredible vintage with a much larger production than 2022 due to the younger chardonnay vines generating more fruit.
2023 offered perfect growing conditions with dry weather and low disease pressure. A cool start to spring led to delayed budburst followed by a gentle ripening period.
Winemaker Jono Mettam's Tasting Notes
This chardonnay was hand-picked at optimum ripeness and gently whole-bunch pressed into French oak barriques where indigenous yeasts completed the fermentation to dryness. Fresh aromas of nectarine, citrus, and oyster shell mesh with subtle oak overtones. On the palate, mouth-filling flavours of peach, fresh mango and lemon pith are complemented by the delicate minerality of the oak. Saline acidity balances the richness and creaminess of the fruit.
The chardonnay grapes were hand harvested in the cool of morning on February 23 and then chilled overnight. The whole bunches were then pressed the following morning directly into a combination of 30% new and 70% second fill French oak barriques. The juice then underwent an indigenous yeast fermentation to dryness which took a period of 20 days. The wine was matured in barrel for a further 9 months, racked out of barrel on October 30, filtered and bottled on 5 November 2023.
Be°: 12.3 degrees (at harvest)
Alc: 12.9% w/v
pH: 3.28
TA: 6.6g/L