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2005 Classic Release Chardonnay Tasting Notes
The best cool climate Chardonnays have a naturally long acid spine and a long, subtle and complex palate. This is what we strive for.
Fruit
Chardonnay grapes from only the coolest parts of the Mornington Peninsula have been used for our flagship Chardonnay.
Maturation
Wild yeast full barrel ferment in special French barriques (the staves of which were bent with hot water rather than by fire); no yeasts were added to this wine at all. The wine was matured in the same French oak barriques (50% new) for 9 months. 100% Malolactic fermentation was allowed to occur. This treatment was all about maximizing tightness of structure, length of palate, richness and complexity without too much concern about the wine needing a few years to come into balance.
Technical Analysis
Alcohol 14.0%.
Best Drinking
For the Classic Release wines, there is no compromise on early drinkability. They are actually very beautiful wines when young but you will be rewarded by waiting until they are at least three years old. The fruit will hold for the next five years and the wine should still be quite fresh after a decade or more.
Bouquet and Palate
The subtle but complex nose on this wine has lemon, grapefruit, pineapple and a range of other tropical fruits with a touch of nectarine enhanced by gentle spicy oak. The palate beautifully echoes the nose, adding delicate cashew as the fruit continues on to a very long finish. Weaving all through the palate is an exotic mandarin character derived from its wild fermentation. |
