Chardonnay

Single Variety

Clare Valley

At release, the wine is a youthful pale straw colour with a slight green hue to the edges.

The wine has ripe citrus fruit aromas along with stone fruit and a subtle flinty note. Enticing sweet spice and a vanilla oak lift add complexity to the bouquet.

This is a medium-bodied yet sumptuous wine with an enjoyable creaminess to the mid-palate. Flavours of plump juicy fruit are evident along with cleansing citrus at the finish which has wonderful persistence and length from the use of quality French oak.

The wine was matured in a mixture of American oak hogshead & barrique barrels (30% 1 year old, 70% 2-3 year old) for 10 - 12 months before being fined, filtered & bottled

Growing conditions leading up to vintage 2012 were relatively mild, with regular spring rains promoting excellent vine canopy growth. Budburst was approximately 10 days earlier than 'average', and this early start flowed through until harvest time with most varieties harvested 1 to 2 weeks earlier than in a 'typical' year. Harvest conditions were excellent with only one substantial rain event occurring during harvest. Whilst it happened after most white varieties were picked, it had a positive effect on the red varieties, appearing to freshen them up, particularly the dry-grown blocks. Ideal ripening and flavor development conditions persisted to the end of April when the majority of the harvest was completed. Overall, yields were somewhat lower than long-term averages but our winemakers report that quality is outstanding across all varieties, with intense colour and excellent flavour development.

Crafted for immediate enjoyment but will cellar over a medium term under ideal conditions.

12.60%

5.52

3.20

1.84

Single: 750ml bottle, Case: 6 x 750ml bottle