Kelly Washington Rapaura Marlborough Chardonnay 2024

Description

Melon, Oak, Toast

A refined style of Chardonnay. Ripe notes of tropical fruit, melon and citrus are at the forefront, supported by savoury, toasty, nutty notes which are promoted by a mindful selection of French oak. Wholly complete yet with great aging potential, the KW Chardonnay brings together poise and elegance, and is defined by a long, flinty finish.

At Kelly Washington we seek the most unique and diverse parcels of high quality fruit, which we translate into our elegant and honest wines.

An absolute stunner of a vintage to bring our KW Chardonnay back to life after a three year hiatus. Focusing on a small plot from the Auntsfield, that covers a stand alone hill side clay slope in the Southern Valleys. Marginal weather over flowering leading to low yields and a period of settled, warm weather over summer ensured a wine rich in concentration and texture.

100% Whole bunch pressed, minimal settling. Commenced fermentation naturally after 7 days, on full lees. Wholly native yeast. Four French oak barriques and one puncheon – one new, one 2nd fill, two 3rd fill and a neutral puncheon. After fermentation, the wine remained on full lees in the French oak barriques for 9 months. It was then racked to a small stainless steel vessel to settle for two months prior to bottling.