Chardonnay 2018

Vibrant aromas of tropical fruits with a hint of lime. Creamy and textural with delicate oak integration and soft acidity.

95 points and 5 Stars "Ripening was advanced by unusually hot weather in Quartz Reef's Bendigo vineyard which, by Central Otago standards, is one of the region's warmer sites. A seductively silken-smooth chardonnay with peach, stone fruit, ginger, nut and subtle spicy oak flavours." By Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

• Vineyard
• Vintage
• Winemaking
• Technical

• Biodynamic Demeter certified Bendigo Estate vineyard; planted in 1998, with a vine density of 5,000 plants per hectare. The soils on the beautiful north facing slope are Waenga fine sandy loam and Letts steepland with an elevation from 217 – 264 metres, on 44.55° south.
• We experienced an extraordinary summer resulting in the hottest growing
  season ever in Central Otago’s modern history. Early flowering and ripening
  meant our normal six months of growing was condensed into a mere five
  months. February rain brought relief for the vines and enabled them to achieve physiological ripeness, and warmer than normal nights lead to lower acidity. Harvest dates were brought forward to achieve perfect balance.
• Hand-picked in ideal condition and ripeness on the 20th March 2018. Whole
  bunch pressed, minimum settling followed by natural fermentation in French
  oak (10% new) and aged on lees for 12 months. Bottled on the 16th April 2019.
• pH: 3.39, TA: 4.8g/l, Alc: 13.5%, RS: 1.3g/l