Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2018

Description

• Peach
• Citrus 
• Toasty notes 
• Weighty, long finish

"Estate-grown in the Chaytors Road Vineyard, near the coast in the Wairau Valley, the 2018 vintage, was fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques (25 per cent new). Already enjoyable, it has a fragrant, smoky bouquet, leading into a mouthfilling, sweet-fruited wine with concentrated, youthful, peachy, citrusy flavours, toasty notes adding complexity, and good cellaring potential. Best drinking 2021+" Michael Cooper, Buyers Guide, 2020

Pronounced lemon citrus notes are interlaced with rich, smoky oak aromas. The palate is rich with citrus and peach fruit characters and is balanced with a fine acidity. Barrel-aging on lees has contributed brioche, vanilla and smoky mocha notes as well as a weighty texture and delicious, long finish.

From our Chaytors Road Vineyard situated on the banks of the Wairau Diversion, the coastal see breezes moderate temperatures and encourage gentle ripening. Silt and riverstones provide the ideal soils for our 16 – 20-year-old Mendoza clone Chardonnay vines.

We handpicked the grapes in ideal condition and gently pressed them into French oak barriques (25% new) and waited patiently for fermentation to occur naturally. The wine was left to mature in barrel for ten months during which time it underwent malolactic fermentation to convert the sharper malic acid into the softer lactic acid. This is a necessary part of the process with this clone of chardonnay in our cool climate and provides added texture and overall complexity.

Food Pairing: Seafood, terrines and pates, risotto, creamy pasta dishes, chicken and char-grilled foods, roasted vegetables.