Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay 2019

Description

• French oak
• Ripe stone fruit
• Grilled almond
• Underlying salinity

Slightly hazy unfiltered appearance with a golden lemon hue. Complex mineral nose with hazelnut, grilled almond notes supported by ripe stone, citrus fruits with an underlying salinity. The palate is vibrant with tension and length, showing a nice mixture of bright ripe plush fruit, great structure and texture. There is a salivating citrus drive to the palate which is supported by gentle toasty oak.

Old vine Mendoza Chardonnay from Waipara Springs and Waipara Downs vineyards. Soils are Omihi clays, planted between 1982-1986. Clone 5 and Mendoza Chardonnay from the Three Sisters Vineyard on Rangitata gravels that was planted between 2001-2004.

The spring and early summer was cool with high rainfall resulting in good canopies and smaller crops. From Christmas through till harvest, we experienced very warm and settled weather which resulted in beautifully ripe, clean fruit at harvest.

Hand picked and fermented with natural vineyard yeasts and aged in French barrels, 20% new, for 12 months before settling in stainless steel tanks on light less for a further 4 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.