Clairault Estate Chardonnay 2008
Blend: 100% Margaret River Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Bright deep straw in colour. The fruit aromas are upfront and lifted, aromas of passionfruit, pineapple, fig, and ripe melon. Oak and winemaking aromas follow, aromas such as freshly baked bread, roasted pine nuts and marzipan. The palate is clean with a toasty finish and a core of strong tropical fruit flavours. It is quite a big wine, but not broad or cloying, thanks to a fine tight acidity and oak structure keeping the fruit in check.
Winemaking:
The fruit for this wine was sourced from our L-block Chardonnay (33%) and our South Block Chardonnay (67%), with the clone being mainly gingin. The fruit is hand picked to allow for whole bunch pressing. After a minimal settling, fermentation is carried out in barrel (33% new) using natural occurring (spontaneous) yeasts. Oak subtlety is achieved through the use of high quality French barriques from trusted Burgundian coopers, combined with regular lees stirring (batonnage) and malo-lactic fermentation (MLF). MLF occurs on only select parts of the blend to soften acidity and build complexity and texture.
Winemaker:
Will Shields
