Delta Marlborough Chardonnay 2023

Description

Macadamia, Nectarine, Oak

"Attractively fruited and elegantly expressed, the bouquet shows ripe peach, lemon peel, vanilla and hazelnut aromas, followed by a succulent palate displaying good weight and creamy texture. Well framed by bright acidity, finishing smooth and rounded. At its best: now to 2027" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jul 2024

The 2023 Chardonnay is elegant and layered with a complex palate of white nectarine, macadamia nuts and creamy nougat. Pale straw colour in the glass. Captivating aromas of fresh fig, oyster shell and pastry notes. A focussed palate with stone fruit flavours and hints of vanilla. The slight minerality adds texture for an elegant, clean finish.

Our Chardonnay grapes were sourced from Marlborough's Lower Wairau Valley. This area is an old riverbed with fast draining, alluvial soils.

The 2023 vintage started with warm spring weather resulting in early flowering within our Delta vineyards. The growing season had higher levels of rain that cleared up early April, at this time the wind picked up, drying the fruit and leaving behind disease free grapes with delicate aromas. Ripening steadily throughout the growing period, the fruit was continually monitored until a balance of flavour, acidity and physiological ripeness was reached.

Once transported to the winery, the grapes were pressed, lightly settled and inoculated with a selected yeast strain. The wine was fermented in seasoned French oak barriques and underwent a full malolactic conversion to enhance the secondary characters. The barrels matured for nine months, during which regular lees stirring took place to build complexity in the wine. Heather's preferred barrels were selected for the final blend before light fining and filtration.

Food Pairing: An ideal wine to enjoy with fresh crayfish and creamy potato bake.