Rochford Single Vineyard 'Dans les Bois' Chardonnay 2019
RRP: $49.00
96 Points - Halliday Wine Companion 2021
“This is the chardonnay sibling to the beautiful Pinot Noir ex Swallowfield Vineyard. Clones 76, 96 and I10V3 hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed with juice solids to French oak, 10% mlf and 10 months maturation. Exceptional complexity and length.”
- James Halliday 2021
95 Points - The Wine Front 2021
92 Points - The Real Review 2022
‘Dans les Bois’ translates from French into ‘In the Woods’ and represents this incredible Upper Yarra vineyard which is surrounded on all sides by natural forest.
Tasting Notes:
Pale to medium yellow straw. Cool growing conditions of this Upper Yarra Chardonnay has produced white blossom, citrus conserve and white stone fruit aromas. Fine boned structure bursting with juicy, mouth-watering acid sustaining great length. The palate is filled out with a fleshy frame of nectarine, hints of sun warmed rock melon with an underlying custardy oak tone of oven baked peach Danish and pan toasted pine nuts.
Winemaking Notes:
Hand-picked on the 3rd and 4th of March
Vinification & Elevage: Fruit is whole bunch pressed with full juice solids to mix of French oak barriques, puncheons and a foudre (20% new) for primary fermentation. 10% malolactic conversion then sulphured on lees. 10 months on lees in oak.
Viticultural Notes:
Chardonnay clones: 96, 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 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