Saint Clair Block 10 Twin Hills Marlborough Chardonnay 2022

Description

Almond, Oak, Spice

"The epitome of poise and elegance with ample stony mineral notes and a flourish of honeyed nuts. Intense and structured with a chalky acid crunch and energising length" Decanter World Wine Awards 2024

An elegant French barrique fermented Chardonnay with flavours of ripe stonefruit, roasted almond and toasty oak. Pale straw. Perfumed aromas of stonefruit and lemon curd with toasted oak and lifted spice. This wine will continue to evolve and develop complexity over the next five years and beyond. Nine months maturation on lees in French oak barrels has assisted with creating a rich creaminess and fine tannin structure.

Fruit was predominantly sourced from the valley between twin peaks in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys sub-region. Grown on clay-based soils, the vines are Mendoza and Burgundian Clone 95. The vines were monitored carefully during ripening and fruit was harvested at maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

The fruit was partially handpicked and whole bunch pressed to ensure the vineyard characters and fruit flavours were preserved. The juice was barrel fermented in 100 per cent French oak (24 per cent new oak barrels) using selected yeast strains. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by 9 months aging on yeast lees with regular stirring. Only the best barrels were selected for the Twin Hills Pioneer Block wine.

Food Pairing: Seared chicken breast with pine nut salad.