The Chardonnay vines are grown on an east-facing, gentle slope, allowing early morning and late afternoon sunshine. This aspect is perfect for growing top-quality Chardonnay grapes. Today, the average age of the vines is over 40 years, which adds to the fruit’s complexity.
The Chardonnay grapes are hand-harvested early in the day and pressed in an airbag press. The juice is then chilled, settled and inoculated with yeast before being transferred to a cool underground cellar for fermentation in new, one and two-year-old French oak barrels. The wine is left to age on the yeast lees with regular stirring to increase texture. After around 11 months, the wine is fined and sent to bottle.
It is a classic Isabella with a textured roundness, lovely balancing acidity and a combination of New and
Old World. Drinking beautifully already, but with plenty of ageing potential. -