Clairault Estate Chardonnay 2022
Vineyard
100% Bridgeland Vineyard, Karridale
Winemaking Note
The fruit for our Estate Chardonnay is selected from our best blocks of fruit and hand-picked. The fruit is chilled and whole-cluster pressed to retain freshness and cultivate texture and structure. The juice is settled cold and racked after 2 days, harvesting only the lightest and most delicate grape solids to further aid in textural and aromatic development. The juice is barrel fermented in a combination of old and new French oak barriques. The wine is sulphured pre-malolactic fermentation, in order to further preserve fresh fruit aromatics and pure acidity. It is then aged in oak for 9 months and battonaged every two weeks to develop texture and additional palate complexity before bottling.
Vintage Conditions
Steady winter rains between May and September 2021 filled soil profiles enough to sustain through the drier months. Budburst and shoot growth were surprisingly even in spring, albeit a little behind average dates, with wet and cloudy conditions continuing through to late November. The growing season lagged 3 weeks later than average, with veraison of chardonnay completing around mid-January. Dry, clear conditions and no rainfall over December and January sped up ripening, with early picking varieties maturing only a week later than historical average dates. The 2022 vintage resulted in whites of purity and power.
Aroma
White pear, jasmine, grapefruit and bees wax.
Palate
Pure, tense and focused. Pear flesh, zest and porcelain-like tannin drive forward a message of serenity and true fruit expression. A lattice of fine French oak, granite and grapefruit pith serve as a platform for an unyielding finish of white flowers, lemon curd and hints of gun-smoke.
Cellaring
Enjoyed for its freshness now, or cellar up to 8 years for further complexity.
Alcohol
13%