Kelly Washington Rapaura Marlborough Chardonnay 2019

Description

• French oak
• Melon
• Savory notes
• Citrus acidity

"Creamy, silken chardonnay with white peach, melon, root ginger and subtle spicy oak flavours. Seamless wine with integrated flavours and a lingering finish. A seductive chardonnay that is easy to appreciate now" Bob Campbell MW, Mar 2021

A slight change in style to incorporate the use of no new oak, mainly due to volume restrictions ( but also some genuine curiosity! ) has aided in creating a style that is focused even more so on the impact of using a high proportion of lees in small vessels. Showing complex savoury aromas that follow though onto the palate, also notes of melon and almonds. The palate is defined and elegant, yes concentrated and finishes with a long, delicious, citrus acidity.

This Chardonnay is grown on an organic and biodynamically farmed vineyard in the Rapaura Subregion of Marlborough of 100% Chardonnay variety.

After the challenging nature of both 2017 and 2018, a remarkably trouble free vintage was very welcomed for 2019! A long, hot, dry summer ensured fantastic ripening, with all of the Chardonnay bunches ripening very consistently. The trick was to pick early enough to retain acidity, which is the hallmark of all the of wines at Kelly Washington. They managed to pick our block at a wonderful level of ripeness, with great fruit concentration, acid structure and extremely low disease pressure.

A combination of heavy and light soils have aided to create a deep wine full of great personality and natural balance. The grapes were 100% handpicked off a 23 year old vine, whole bunch pressed and naturally fermented French Oak  puncheons & barriques (no new oak). There is minimal settling with this wine.