Mystery Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 Magnum 1.5L

Description

• French oak
• Ripe stonefruit
• Buttered popcorn
• Smooth & silky

"Gorgeously maturing and enticing, the bouquet shows grilled peach, backed fig, vanillin oak and brioche aromas on the nose, leading to a wonderfully weighted palate offering creamy texture and rich fruit intensity. Soothing and flavoursome with a lingering delectable finish. 1.5 litre magnum. At its best: now to 2025" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Aug 2022

This wine has a complex and generous aromatic profile. Initial impressions of buttered popcorn and citrus blossom overlie ripe stonefruits. The palate has nectarine, peach, and citrus pith characters. These are complemented by spicy oak, and a biscuity complexity. The texture is smooth and silky, with a nice line of acidity to keep the wine focused and in balance.

The fruit for this wine comes from two great vineyard sites in Marlborough’s Central Wairau Valley subregion. Each site is planted with a different Chardonnay clone. With 75% Mendoza coming from the Middle Renwick Road vineyard, and 25% of Clone 15 from the Rapaura Road vineyard.

The 2017 growing season was a challenging season with a cool spring and summer leading into a cool autumn with numerous rain events. However, good viticultural management and the adaption of appropriate practices due to the early identification of the cooler season, resulted in some very good fruit. The combination of dropping crop in a naturally lower yielding season, along with an increase in leaf plucking and other canopy management techniques allowed us to harvest our fruit earlier than normal and in good condition.

The fruit was machine picked and then gently pressed directly to a mix of French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Fermentation occured with a mix of indigenous and cultured yeasts (Burgundy isolates). The wine was then left to mature in its fermentation vessels on lees for a further 6 months, before being racked and blended.

Food Pairing: As a food-friendly wine, look for mild, creamy or buttery food matches. Try this Mystery Chardonnay with poached salmon or delicate fish cakes, a chicken salad or a creamy pasta dish. Shellfish can work a treat too.