Rapaura Springs Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2017

Description

"Beautifully composed and elegantly styled, the attractive bouquet shows apricot, mango, hazelnut and vanilla characters with a hint of flinty complexity. The palate delivers succulent fruit weight and roundness, wonderfully complemented by creamy texture and juicy fruit intensity. It is smooth and supple with a lingering fine finish. At its best: now to 2020" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, June 2018

This Reserve Chardonnay is concentrated and delicious. Aromas of white peach, nectarine and citrus are complimented by an attractive flint character. On the palate, it is full-bodied with stone fruit and citrus flavours combined with a toasty, sweet spice influence from French Oak maturation. Drinking beautifully on release it wil continue to reward careful cellaring for 3-5 years.

Cooler temperatures during the 2017 growing season extended the ripening period and the delivered trademark Marlborough flavours. Careful vineyard & crop management decisions were made to ensure fruit was harvested clean, phenologically ripe and full of flavour. This Reserve wine is made from the finest parcels of fruit from the 2017 harvest and characterised by the concentrated, full-bodied stone fruit and citrus flavours Marlborough Chardonnay is known for.

Once pressed, the juice was fermented in a selection of French oak barriques and stainless steel to achieve a balance between the toasty oak characters and the fresh ripe fruit flavours. Partial malolactic fermentation (10%) has softened the wine and added extra weight and complexity to the palate. This Reserve wine captures and showcases some of the delicious Chardonnay flavours and aromas from Marlborough's unique Southern Valley sub-region.