Dog Point Marlborough Chardonnay 2017

Description

• Nutty oak
• Toast & biscuit
• Citrus
• Smoky flint

"Savoury, complex Chardonnay, with less emphasis on citrus and grapefruit fruit flavours and more on struck flint, fireworks, biscuit and brioche-like lees character. Good acidity and an appealing texture" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Oct 2019

Pale straw in colour. A pure, bright and youthful citrus driven Chardonnay with complex smokey, flint, toast and biscuit notes derived from extended barrel aging on full solids. A strong year for Chardonnay delivered vibrant, lively acidity. The palate is focussed and restrained which unfurls on the finish and exposes the intense citrus core with underlying cashew, nutty flavours.

The 2017 harvest will be remembered as the shortest one ever (21 days) at Dog Point Vineyard, later than normal due to the abnormally late Summer weather, and finishing before major rain events in mid April. It began with warm Spring and Summer weather resulting in good bud-burst and desirable even growth. Cool weather followed in early December with dry, and at times windy, weather mid-summer. Late February rain helped replenish the soil prior to harvest, and cooler but otherwise excellent growing conditions prevailed into the autumn. Attentive viticultural practice allowed winemakers to achieve optimum physiological ripeness at lower sugars, resulting in impressive fruit flavours.

Hand picked and gently pressed straight to barrel (15% new) for eighteen months. No juice clarification with 100% wild primary and secondary fermentations. Bottled without fining and with only minimal filtration.