2023 Cri de Coeur Chardonnay
A cool, wet season halved the crop and concentrated everything that survived, giving a chardonnay of real elegance and drive. White blossom, nectarine and peach, framed by a fine line of acidity and a long, savoury finish.
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Tasting Notes
NOSE
White blossom and citrus, followed by layers of nectarine and peach with a subtle almondy nuance.
PALATE
Generous and refined, showing ripe stone fruit and gentle spice, framed by a fine line of bright acidity and a long, savoury finish.
Cri de Coeur
Vintage
For the third year in the past four, the summer of 2022/23 in South Eastern Australia has again been punctuated by cooler and wetter conditions than average. Starting in November 2022 these weather conditions resulted in lower than desirable pollination levels and ultimately yields being half what we would normally see. On the bright side the low yields and cool summer have seen a slow and progressive ripening of fruit with lovely acid retention and beautiful elegance for whites and reds alike!
Vineyard
Fruit for this wine comes from the sustainably farmed, 43 year old Crittenden Home Vineyard, that has over time produced consistently excellent, award winning wines.
Winemaking
The hand harvested fruit was gently whole bunch pressed to a mixture of new and one year old French oak barriques. The barrels were allowed to commence fermentation spontaneously with wild (indigenous) yeast, with temperature control being exercised to ensure the retention of clean fruit characters and aromatics. The wine was then stored in the same barrels for 11 months, with occasional lees stirring early on. Approximately 50% of the wine underwent malolactic conversion.
Awards & Reviews
Best paired with
- Roast pork belly with apple and fennel
- Corn and prawn fritters with lime
- Scallops with brown butter and hazelnuts