Blank Canvas Escaroth Marlborough Chardonnay 2019

Description

• French oak
• Zesty grapefruit
• Toasted brioche & almond
• Defined acidity

"From a north-facing slope in the Southern Valleys Taylor Pass. Concentrated savoury chardonnay with chalky, oyster-shell, mineral, grapefruit, hazelnut, almond and baguette crust flavours. A youthful wine that promises to develop well in bottle" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jul 2020

"The very ageworthy 2019 vintage (4.5*) is a single-vineyard wine, grown at Taylors Pass, in the Southern Valleys. Hand-picked, it was fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques and puncheons (30 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it has a fragrant, youthful, complex, slightly smoky bouquet. Weighty, with generous, grapefruit-like flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, excellent complexity, balanced acidity and a tight-knit finish, it should be at its best 2022+" Michael Cooper, Aug 2020

"Intense aromas of wood smoke and barrel spice then ruby grapefruit, peach and baked orchard fruits. Youthful and very inviting bouquet. On the palate - weighty, silky, warm, fleshy, spicy, smoky and dry. Fruits flavours reflect the nose with yellow fleshed stone fruits, some apple and grapefruit. Lovely wine on the palate - a Chardonnay lovers paradise. Still developing so no rush to drink till mid, even end of, 2021 and through 2025" Cameron Douglas, MS, May 2020

The inaugural release of the Escaroth Chardonnay situated in Marlboroughs Taylor Pass heralds a bright, zesty grapefruit and lemon fruit profile coupled with toasted brioche, musk and a savoury nuttiness. It possesses a chalky texture that is borne upon precisde, defined acidity. The winemakers Chardonnay philosophy is very much about minimal intervention but maximum satisfaction, with the wild fermentation, lees maturation, zero battonage and natural malolactic fermentation in a mixed format oak regime results in a complex and layered palate. This style is rewarding to drink now showing generosity and charm but will certainly go the distance in the cellar if you can keep your hands off it.

The Escaroth vineyard is home to dedicated growers and friends Andy and Kyna Laurie. Situated in the Taylor Pass subregion of the Southern Valleys, they first planted vines on their land at the turn of the Millennium. The Chardonnay was reincarnated from old Riesling vines serveral years ago and consists of 100% Clone 95, which we love for its elegance and aromatic complexity. The vineyard is on the highest part of the vineyard, nestled on a beautiful north facing slope. It is dry-farmed and tended by hand. The Escaroth Chardonnay was hand-harvested on 26th March 2019.

2019 was one of the driest vintages on record and for many in the region one of the lowest cropping. A relatively wet Spring provided good early season growth, though a cool flowering period resulting in low berry numbers for Chardonnay. The dry conditions with only trivial rainfall between Christmas and the 10th March meant there was zero disease pressure and produced exceptionally clean, healthy fruit. Overall the Chardonnay of 2019 produced very generous, ripe fruit flavours and beautiful intensity and richness on the palate. Simply and sincerely made, this Chardonnay was gently whole-bunched pressed with very cloudy free-run juice going to new and seasoned French oak puncheons (500L) as wel as barriques (30% new). There is was left to kick off wild fermenation. The wine was left to its own devices, without sulphur or lees stirring throughout maturation, and it underwent natural malolactic fermentation in the Spring. Carefully racked and bottled without filtration on the 2nd April.