Growing Conditions
A beautifully wet winter in 2013 provided a great start to the Spring growing
season. Near perfect weather during flavour development with no heat waves or
large rainfall events recorded and a total of 4.3mm falling between December
2013 –
February 2014. A
bundant Marri blossom before and throughout vintage
saw no pressure or damage from silver eye birds with 2014 being a truly
‘Classic’ Margaret River weather pattern and an exceptional grape growing
season.
Harvest
Our 5 blocks of mature Chardonnay vines were harvested over 3 days to ensure
the optimal flavor profiles of each block were captured. A
ll fruit was hand
harvested in the cool of dawn, immediately destemmed and pressed and the
juice settled in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Winemaking
Only brand new
French oak is used to balance and enhance the powerful fruit flavors our
Chardonnay con
sistently achieves. Upon completion of primary fermentation
both the wooded and unwooded portions were allowed to mature on undisturbed
lees for 8 months. Malolactic fermentation and battonage were avoided to retain
the primary fruit qualities and freshnes
s crucial to our style of Chardonnay. The
finished wine has 12 months of bottle maturation in our underground climate
controlled cellar ensuring a perfectly integrated, delicious and complex wine on
release which will age graciously for many years to come.
