Chardonnay 2008

Wine Notes
Peach and melon aromas are evident on the nose with fine grapefruit and hints of dry straw. Sweet stonefruit, nectarine and grapefruit describe the palate, whilst sweet yeasty notes and a fine minerality supplement the gentle influence of oak.

Foodmatch                                                                                                                                       This Chardonnay is a great accompaniment to seafood and poultry dishes. With time its well-rounded mouth-feel will develop further and be enhanced by more complex flavours, making it an excellent addition to fillet or tenderloin or pork.

Viticulture
The Chardonnay vines surround the winery building and also border the Paritua stream. 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 good ripeness and excellent flavour balance. This Chardonnay was picked on the 14th and 15th of March 2008.

Cellaring Potential
Drink now or cellar up to 2013.

Winemaking
Several individual batches of fruit were destemmed to press. After a slow pressing cycle the juice was settled and fermented in both stainless steel tanks and French oak barriques (40%). Both specific strains and natural yeasts were utilized to create complexity and depth. The wine was kept on lees for several months before blending, fining and filtration prior to bottling in September of 2008.

Technical Information
Alcohol by Volume 13%
949 cases made
TA 5.8
Ph 3.36
Closure Stelvin Lux