Stone Paddock Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2018

Description

• Ripe tropical fruit
• Citrus blossom
• Subtle nougat
• Creamy & luscious

The 2018 Stone Paddock Chardonnay shows ripe tropical fruit of lychee, cantaloupe, citrus blossom and peach aromas with hints of nougat. The gentle influence of battonage accentuates the sweet melon and peach flavours, the texture is creamy and luscious with a full rich tropical fruit finish. Drink now or cellar up to 2023.

The Chardonnay is planted on the most western part of the vineyard clones 95 and 15 are grown on a standard two cane canopy. Fruit exposure is limited to achieve excellent flavour and phenolics balance.

Several batches of machine and hand harvested fruit were de-stemmed to press. After a slow and gentle pressing cycle the juice was settled and then fermented in stainless steel tanks at relatively warm temperatures, to minimize reductive or flinty notes. Wimemakers use selected yeast strains to create complexity and depth. The wine is kept on yeast lees for several months with regular lees stirring (battonage) to help develop complexity and richness, before blending, and filtration.

Food Pairing: This Chardonnay is a refreshing style and will be a great accompaniment with seafood and poultry dishes, and with time it will grow to a well-rounded wine to be drunk with white meat and game fowl dishes.