Shepherds Croft HB Chardonnay

Shepherds Croft HB Chardonnay. Category: Chardonnay. Manufacturer: Trinity Hill Wines, NZ. The grapes were gently pressed without crushing or destemming to discourage phenolic pickup. This helps to improve the texture and aging ability of the wine. Only a small part of the juice was fermented and aged in French oak barriques with the balance fermented in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation was allowed to proceed for about 30% of the wine, helping to fatten the palate. The wine was blended after some 8 months aging on lees and bottled in June 2010. The Wine: Typical fresh fruit characters from Hawkes Bay chardonnay such as grapefruit and melon are unencumbered with the minimal use of oak, in a Chablis vein. The wine is rich and round, with soft acidity and attractive sweet fruit. The wine shows aging potential and should be at its best by the year 2011-2012. Maturation under good cellar conditions for a further 2 years will be well rewarded. Serve lightly chilled with seafood or poultry dishes, or as a wine on its own.