Akarua Central Otago Chardonnay 2018

Description

"In 2018, a warmer than average vintage; our Pisa block had a cooler vintage with more marked diurnal variation than Bannockburn. The ripening period was more drawn out and we harvested the fruit more than 2 weeks later. The Pisa fruit displayed excellent acid retention and I think this is evident in the final wine. Lifted mineral-led spice notes from the broken-down schist soils of our Kawarau block are becoming more apparent as the vines age and their roots become more deeply connected to their terroir" Winemaker

Golden straw colour in the glass. Complex nose of yellow nectarine flesh, lemon zest, kaffir lime leaf, clover honey and earthy minerality with exotic notes of papaya and jasmine. Palate follows through with pink grapefruit juiciness, fine linear acidity lending length and focus, lifted ground fennel spice perfume and finishing with river stone minerals.

An exceptionally warm, dry spring and early summer gave the winemakers unusually high early season growth. Extraordinary summer heat brought the whole growing season forward culminating in our earliest harvest on March 1st. Late summer brought record high rainfall with relatively cool daytime temperatures. These cooler temperatures kept disease pressure in check and the fruit delivered to the winery by the vineyard crew was in excellent condition.