Archangel Central Otago Chardonnay 2016

Description

A golden straw color with clear hues. Fragrant aromas of peach, nectarine and spice entwined with a touch of toffee, vanilla and a hint of warm bread and orange blossom. The palate is dry with rich ripe peach, nectarine, pear and a hint of citrus. The wine is mouth filling with a lush entry, creamy texture and long mineral driven finish. - A delicious wine and an elegant expression of the Archangel terroir.

Distinctive, pure and well balanced. One of the shortest and most intense harvests in recent memory. The season began with budburst in early Spring before an intense period of heat initiated flowering which was both short and successful. Frosts were ever present throughout which kept everybody on alert however through a watchful eye on the forecast and great preparation we were able to avert any real danger. The blustery northerlies of December and January played their part and kept conditions relatively dry and fortunately didn’t cause too much vine stress or damage. The remainder of the season saw warmer temperatures that ripened the fruit nicely through till Autumn. Harvest began on the 5th of April and was finished a few weeks later. The vineyard was in great health throughout the season and the wines as ever with Central Otago – proved to be of exceptional quality. The fruit was hand harvested and was whole bunch pressed to tank. The juice was transferred to French oak barriques to undergo fermentation in barrel. The wine was aged in oak for 9 months, of which approximately 38% was new oak. During this time the malo-lactic fermentation was completed and the wine was regularly lees stirred.