Aotea Nelson Chardonnay 2018

94 Points - Cameron Douglas MS, September 2019
91 Points - Bob Campbell MW, © The Real Review, therealreview.com, October 2019

Vineyard: Seifried Brightwater vineyard
Sugar at Harvest: 23.9°Brix
Date of Harvest: 22 March 2018
pH of Wine: 3.47
T.A of Wine: 7.4g/L
Residual Sugar of Wine: dry 1.4g/L
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans: Yes

The 2018 Aotea Nelson Chardonnay is a tiny blend of just four barrels which our winemakers set aside. It was all handpicked and had indigenous yeast fermentation in new oak. The wine is a statement wine with bright fruity, nutty oak and a long minerally finish. One to tuck away and savour.

Our winemakers set aside this tiny parcel of hand-picked Chardonnay for this special wine. Whole clusters of fruit were loaded into the press and a gentle pressing
cycle was set. Juice was drained directly to just four new barrels for an indigenous yeast fermentation. Partial malolactic fermentation followed and the wine was left
to age on lees in the barrel for a further 12 months. In late March 2019 the wine was pulled from the barrels and blended. After a gentle filtration, the wine was bottled in June 2019