Old Coach Road Nelson Unoaked Chardonnay 2019

93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout, September 2021
89 Points - Bob Campbell MW, 'The Real Review' therealreview.com
87 Points (4 Stars) - Wine Orbit, January 2020, New Zealand

Vineyard: Seifried Rabbit Island and Redwood Valley vineyards
Sugar at Harvest: 22.9°Brix
Date of Harvest: Mid March 2019
pH of Wine: 3.29
T.A of Wine: 6.0g/L
Residual Sugar: 1.16g/L
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans: Yes

The Chardonnay fruit for our 2019 Old Coach Road Nelson Unoaked Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from our Rabbit Island and Redwood Valley vineyards.

The Rabbit Island vineyard is situated on a wide river flat. The soil is gravelly, sandy loam, which is very free-draining. This vineyard is about 1.5 km from the sea which helps moderate temperatures.

The unirrigated Redwood Valley vineyard is situated on a gently sloping, north-facing clay site; the vines range in age from 10 to 30 years. Vertical shoot positioning helps to expose the berries to sunlight, thus getting maximum intensity and optimal ripeness.

Traditionally Chardonnay is made in an oaked style, however we are often asked: What does Chardonnay as a grape variety with no oak ageing taste like? This is it!

The fruit for our 2019 Old Coach Road Nelson Unoaked Chardonnay came into the winery in perfect condition. The grapes were pressed, and the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks to capture the natural tropical fruit characters of the grape verity without influence from oak. The wine has undergone partial malolactic fermentation to soften natural acidity before being stabilised and bottled in September 2019.