The jewel of our range, the Thompson’s Chardonnay is given the royal treatment. Selective hand harvested fruit from the best Chardonnay of the season is then whole bunch pressed to maximise fruit character. Wild yeast present on the fruit and in the winery conduct the ferment allowing the true personality of the site, fruit, and season to be expressed. Flavours of apricot, golden peach and ruby grapefruit are accentuated. New and one fill predominantly French barriques add toasted hazelnut and texture to the palate. Finally full malolactic fermentation adds decadent creaminess which is difficult to resist.
With such a rich wine balance is key, so we aim to ensure the fruit is not overshadowed by the oak. We hope you are as seduced by this wine as we are.
The 2022 season was challenging, with significantly higher rainfall over flowering, again in January and 120mm in March affecting fruit set and brix accumulation.
It was certainly a worrying time, however the 548 Chardonnay that we selected for this wine had lovely small open bunches which survived the wet conditions.
Our vineyards are accredited by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, while incorporating principals of biodiversity, minimal herbicide and insecticide use. All the Thompson’s vineyards are dry farmed, no irrigation is necessary for our grapevines to thrive.
Growing: Clone 548 Chardonnay is sourced from our Patutahi Lake Road vineyard. The soil of this sub-region is clay dominant with pumice layering in places. We hand-harvested to ensure only the best bunches are selected, on the 9th of March 2022 prior to heavy rain at 22.3 Brix.
We ensure the fruit zone is well leaf plucked to maximise air flow and sunshine penetration.
Winemaking: The bunches were cooled in the chiller overnight before being gently whole bunch pressed directly to oak barriques. Wild yeasts were allowed to conduct the fermentation, which was followed by malolactic conversion. Regular lees stirring adds richness and integrates oak character with wonderful fruit flavour. Maturation in oak for 11 months marries fruit with oak and lees richness perfectly. Traditionally fined with fresh skim milk prior to filtration and bottling.
Analyses: 0.5g//L RS, pH 3.56, TA = 6.2g/L and Alcohol 13%.
This elegant and flavourful Chardonnay will enhance dishes of exceptional chicken, grilled crayfish, scallops wrapped with bacon and roasted vegetables.
