Hans Herzog Marlborough Chardonnay 2022

Description

Almond, Apple, Oak

“The purity of this is really something, with a crystalline character of perfectly ripe apples, Meyer lemons and some stones and white flowers, yet so subtle and complex. The palate is bright with similar fruit to the nose, while the palate has integrated phenolics and crisp acidity that give this great complexity. A joy to drink now or hold” James Suckling

This stately Chardonnay rival stands shoulder to shoulder with its Côte d’Or cousins. Depth and elegance meet purity and refinement in this wine. A silky texture reveals flavours of white peach, yellow apple, and a hint of almonds, all in an immensely concentrated profile. Finely balanced acidity imparts vibrant energy, ensuring the wine will last at least a decade in a proper cellar. The long, concentrated dry finish boasts a lovely minerality.

The destemmed and partially crushed (30% whole berries) healthy grapes were left to an extended cold maceration to extract the superb flavours. Then gently pressed directly into used 500 litre French oak puncheons for a natural (wild yeast) alcoholic fermentation with no residual sugar left. The fine lees has been regularly stirred assisting to its remarkable silkiness, complexity and depth. With 18 month in the same barrels to mature and flourish, this Chardonnay will develop into something even more heavenly with bottle age. No cold stabilization. Unfined (vegan) and only lightly filtered to retain all the goodness.