Wine Note

A succulent Chardonnay from the excellent 2002 vintage.  The grapes were hand harvested and fermented in new and seasoned French oak barriques.  The wine was lees stirred weekly for eight months resulting in a complex and delicate wine displaying light grapefruit aromas and a hint of biscuit which lingers on the finish.  An ideal accompaniment to food. 
A small amount available in the cellar door-call us and ask about it! 
 
2004 International Cool Climate Wine Show - Melbourne WINE OF SHOW 
2004 International Cool Climate Wine Show - Melbourne Gold & Trophy 

Alcohol Content

14%

Harvest

A succulent Chardonnay from the excellent 2002 vintage. The fruit for this wine was sourced from our two vineyards situated in Hawke’s Bay. Matariki has approximately 6 hectares of chardonnay planted on the Gimblett Gravels and another 2 hectares planted in the Tuki Tuki Valley. The 2002 vintage gave the grapes a perfect balance between ripeness and acidity producing an elegant and textural chardonnay.

Vinification

The individual batches of grapes were processed separately. The fruit was whole bunch pressed and lightly settled. Some batches were fermented in barrel until about half the sugar had been fermented and then cooled and put to barrel to complete ferment. Fermentation was conducted in new and one-year-old tight grain French barrels from a variety of high quality Coopers. The wine underwent malo-lactic fermentation in barrel (54% of the blend) and was lees stirred weekly for 8 months. The wine was aged in barrel for 10 months prior to bottling.

Composition

100% Chardonnay 
 
26% of this blend is from our Tuki Tuki Terraces Vineyard in Havelock North. The clonal blend components are: 22% Clone 95, 28% Clone 15 and 50% Mendoza.

Sensory

Colour: Pale to medium straw with brilliant clarity. 
 
Aroma: Complex grapefruit aromas with a suggestion of white flesh nectarines and hints of butter biscuits. Subtle cedar and integrated leesy components. 
 
Palate: Rich and concentrated fruit flavours. Balanced acidity with generous cashew and biscuity elements which linger on the finish. A beautifully finely structured wine to accompany food.

Cellaring

4-5 years