Chapel Hill 2019 Gorge Block Chardonnay (6 Bottles) McLaren Vale

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

At our winery vineyard we are fortunate to be the custodians of one of the most unique and inspiring vineyard sites in McLaren Vale. The picturesque undulating hills and ancient geological formations are enhanced by our elevation, as the site perfectly capitalises on the cleansing coastal influence.

Each individual block on this vineyard is distinctive and charismatic due to its expressive geology and unique meso-climate. For this reason we have decided to showcase the uniqueness of our winery vineyard in The Chosen range of single block wines.

In order to ensure that the resultant wine expresses the soul and nature of the block a minimal winemaking intervention philosophy was utilised.

The grapes are hand harvested, hand selected, gently pressed and then only the delicate and aromatic free run juice fraction is utilized for this wine. Barrel fermentation was carried out in a mix of new, 1, 2 and 3 year old tight grained French oak barrels.

This ensures that the oak only gently enhances and compliments the natural and pure Chardonnay fruit characters.
The barrels were minimally stirred over the 10 months to subtly integrate the fruit flavours and the complexing characters and also to promote delicate nutty and creamy nuances. The wine was bottled under screw cap to preserve the full fruit flavour potential and to also increase the ageing potential. There are no fining agents added to this wine. The wine was aged in bottle for 7 months prior to release.

Growing Conditions
The 2015/16 growing season had below average rainfall. Mean average temperatures were also consistently above average. A timely rainfall event in early Feb refreshed the vines and slowed sugar accumulation as they entered the final stages of ripening, resulting in vibrant varietal fruit flavours.