Chardonnay Block 2 2023

Felton Road, tasting note (feltonroad.com – produktside feltonroad.com, hentet 2026-10-19): 2023 Felton Road Chardonnay Block 2 – område: Bannockburn (Central Otago); drue: Chardonnay. Enkeltmark ifølge arket: The Elms Block 2 (The Elms vineyard). Producentens noter (engelsk): Tasting note: An enticing nose of lemon and elderflower blossom, citrus notes and crushed stones, sets the scene for this vineyard expressive Chardonnay. It’s all about the schist soils, the ideal growing season, carefully guided and gently raised, rather than winemaking. The harmoniously integrated acidity tightens the core, giving length and focus. A classic Block 2 that speaks eloquently to its usual fine and elegant style. Vineyard & viticulture: Felton Road farms four properties totaling 34 ha in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago. Block 2 was planted in 1992 and is positioned on a gentle east facing slope of deep angular schist soils immediately north of Block 3 on The Elms vineyard. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity. Vinification: Mendoza clone Chardonnay from Block 2 was whole bunch pressed, settled overnight and flowed by gravity to barrel in the underground cellar. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak (only 4% new) was followed by a long and complete malolactic over the spring and summer. After 17 months in barrel (11 months on gross lees), the wine was carefully racked to tank for bottling in late-August, 2024. The wine was not fined or filtered.