DISTANT LAND RESERVE HAWKE’S BAY CHARDONNAY 2010
SEASON
2010 was one of the best vintages in the Hawke’s Bay area since
the acclaimed 2004 vintage. A mild spring developed into a hot start
to summer resulting in a strong flower set. The ripening season
cooled off later in the growing season in 2010, resulting in harvest
about 10 days later than last year, which is about normal. The rainfree
later days of summer resulted in clean ripe fruit coming into the
winery.
VINEYARD
Hand harvested premium fruit in the Dartmoor Valley, Hawke’s Bay
were sourced from Mendoza vines for this top-tier wine. The soil at
the vineyard sites is a combination of free-draining gravels from the
old riverbed, and calcareous soils from the surrounding limestone
hills and river terraces. The fruit was harvested at peak maturity and
came into the winery clean and ripe with high brix, and most
importantly, excellent concentration of aromatics and flavours.
WINEMAKING
After transportation to the winery the fruit underwent whole bunch
pressing to extract maximum concentration of flavour. A controlled
slow fermentation was carried out in 50% new French Oak barrels. A
complete malo-lactic fermentation was carried out to create a
creamy mouth-filling texture. The wine then spent 12 months on
yeast lees with regular stirring to craft a wine with excellent mid
palate complexity. Prior to bottling, each barrel was then assessed,
and the most concentrated in flavour were selected to produce our
Reserve.
WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Initial aromas of vanilla oak integrate with ripe stone-fruit bouquets
of nectarine and peach. The palate represents the finest of Hawke’s
Bay, with elegant fine-grained lightly toasted French oak and
butterscotch, followed though with hints of almonds, citrus and clean
refreshing stone fruit. Hints of pear and peach flow into a lingering
toasty oak finish. A firm structure will allow this wine to develop in
palate length and weight.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Excellent complemented by a cheese board, followed by roasted
chicken with a kumara and pine nut stuffing with salad greens.
|
TECHNICAL DETAILS |
|
| Winemaker |
Peter Turner |
|
| Grape Variety |
100% Chardonnay |
|
| Region |
Dartmoor Valley, Hawke's Bay |
|
| Harvest Date |
22nd April |
|
| Bottling Date |
August 2011 |
|
| Alcohol |
13.0% |
|
| Acidity |
6.1 g/l |
|
| Residual sugar |
2.0 g/l |
|
| Oak |
12 months, 50% new French oak barrels |
|
|
