Delta Marlborough Chardonnay 2020

Description

• Oaked
• Ripe stonefruit
• Vanilla & lemon
• Silky texture

"Fans of highly oaked, massively creamy styles will want to get in line to get their mitts on this new release from the folk at Delta. I love the creme caramel intensity in this wine from whoa to go, yet the acidity is perky-fresh and accentuates the tropical tones beautifully. Dangerously drinkable" Yvonne Lorkin

"It's gorgeously expressed on the nose showing ripe peach, fig, vanillin oak and subtle spice notes, leading to a beautifully weighted palate offering smooth mouthfeel and silky texture. Upfront and flavoursome. At its best: now to 2024" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Mar 2021

Pale golden in colour. Aromas of ripe fig, lemon zest and vanilla pod. Fresh fig and ripe stone fruits form a fruity palate, balanced with subtle vanilla spice and caramel on the finish.

These select Chardonnay grapes were sourced from Marlborough's Lower Wairau Valley.

The 2020 vintage started with cool spring weather, which extended the length of flowering, leading to open bunches with reduced potential disease pressure during early autumn rains. Lower crop levels led to increased intensity of flavours within the grapes. Ripening steadily throughout the growing period, this fruit was continually monitored until the right balance of flavour and physiological ripeness was attained. The grapes were machine harvested in the cool of the night.

Once transported to the winery, the grapes were pressed, lightly settled and inoculated with a selected yeast strain. The natural stone fruit flavours were maintained, and secondary characteristics such as panna cotta, caramel and vanilla spice developed with malolactic fermentation, regular lees stirring and maturation in oak, before lighting fining and filtering.

Food Pairing: An ideal wine to enjoy with pan seared white fish and creamy potato bake.