Rochford Single Vineyard 'Premier' Chardonnay 2019
RRP: $100.00
97 Points - The Real Review
“Light, bright yellow hue, the bouquet is of shaved almonds and smoky oak/reduction characters. The wine is very dry on the tongue, like sucking on a river stone. It's a lean and racy style, taut and tense and very dry on the aftertaste. An individual style, almost Chablis-like, appetisingly long and tensile in the aftertaste. An outstanding chardonnay.”
- Huon Hooke, The Real Review 2022
97 Points - Halliday Wine Companion 2021
Gold medal - 2022 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge
Gold medal - 2021 Yarra Valley Wine Show
Tasting Notes:
A Chardonnay proud and reflective of its Upper Yarra origin. There is a burst of white botanicals, cashew, lime skin and a little flint. On the palate it’s flavours of mojito, nectarine, grapefruit, pine nuts with fresh cream. Barrel ferment complexity works well, the oak is in the background but adds nice spice to the fruit and the texture stretches towards a long “mineral” finish.
Winemaking Notes:
Hand-picked on the 6th of March
Vinification & Elevage: Fruit is crushed and pressed to French oak barriques (40% new) with juice solids for primary fermentation. Some lees stirring takes place as does 40% malolactic conversion. 10 months on lees in oak.
Viticultural Notes:
Chardonnay clones: 76 and I10V3
The grapes for this wine are from a vineyard in Gembrook and is the southernmost vineyard in the Yarra Valley. Whilst known for its volcanic derived red soils, this vineyard sits on a Granite outcrop.
These quartz rich soils are perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Optimal conditions for both flowering and fruitset in the vineyards gave well balanced yields with plenty of promise leading into the 2019 harvest. A dry January and February followed, culminating in a relatively compressed vintage, though attention to detail in the vineyards gave winemakers wonderfully balanced fruit with concentration of flavour and exceptional natural acidity.
Varietal:
Chardonnay 100%
Alcohol:
13.0%
Contains sulphites. Vegan wine