Escarpment Martinborough Chardonnay 2021

Description

• French oak
• Peach & orange
• Spiced ginger
• Warm mouthfeel

"An impressive bouquet with a distinctive core fruit ripeness , delicious flinty mineral quality and perfectly measured oak seam. Even better on the palate with a silk and fine cream texture that touches the palate first followed by flavours of peach and orange citrus oil, red apple and a touch of quince. Fine oak tanins enhance the flint quality and a noticeable mineral seam sits nicely alongside the oak. A complex and enticing wine that will age nicely with best drinking from late 2023 through 2030+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jul 2022

"Bright, pale yellow with depth and green hues, even colour throughout. The nose is distinctive, soft yet potent, penetrating aromas of oyster shell, citrus, stonefruit, meringue overlying struck match and a hint of nut. Medium-full bodied, concentrated aromas exploded with lemon curd, apricot unfolding spice, grapefruit zest and minerals, followed by whipped meringue, almond and toast. A dusty, chalky layer of minerals coated the palate in silk. The layers of flavour amalgamated by striking acid tension, carrying vibration and focus to a long, stimulating finish. This is an exceptional Chardonnay with excellent tension, concentrated fruit and an elegant mineral palate enriched by well-portioned barrel details" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Aug 2022

Complex citrus and stone fruit notes of grapefruit and nectarine balanced by tertiary aromas of lifted spiced ginger and hazelnut, with a gunflint minerality. The palate shows great cleansing acidity and a warm mouthfeel yet retaining and edgy focus of line and length. Escarpment Martinborough Chardonnay will age gracefully over the next few years, but is immediately accessible as a young wine.

2021 in Martinborough was a small yet exceptional vintage, an accurate reflection of the district’s unique terroir.

Warm days and cool nights through the later growing season allowed for full ripeness, producing an opulent Chardonnay with a flinty mineral backbone. Fermentation in French oak puncheons (20% new) enhances its textural mouthfeel. Malolactic fermentation was bypassed to maintain a delectably crisp natural acidity. After 11 months in oak it saw a further 4 months in stainless steel prior to bottling.

Food Pairing: A perfect match to shellfish and seafood entrées, and roasted poultry dishes.