As always, the Chardonnay is drawn mostly from the estate’s Olive Tree Hill Vineyard (planted in 1976) and Winery Block (1981), which are on volcanic soils over limestone. The average vine age is around 35 years. More recently, this bottling has included fruit from the Kelly Lane Vineyard (Clone 76).
The fruit was pressed as whole bunches and settled overnight. Fermentation occurred in 500-litre French oak puncheons (20% new), with 60% of the wine going through malolactic conversion. The wine spent 10 months on lees with minimal stirring, and no sulphur was added until bottling. It opens bright and floral, with lovely citrusy freshness cutting through the stone fruit generosity of the palate. It tapers to a beautiful savoury close backed by that classic Bannockburn salinity.