Millton Vineyards & Winery - "Opou" Chardonnay Gisborne 2019 750ml (12.5% abv)
First planted as a vineyard in 1969 by Annie Millton’s parents who owned and operated
the Opou Station, this site is Millton’s longest established vineyard.
Vineyard: Opou Vineyard is planted with a mixture of Chardonnay selections. The soil type is complex clay loam over river derived silts giving wines of aroma and texture.
Vintner Notes: There is an immediate eye appeal which is shining and the floral aromas of orange and white blossom together with honeyed notes and nutty acorns which lead into a clean fresh yet soft complexity. There is a hint of gun smoke and orange blossom on the aroma. The acidity is clipped yet complex while still having a salinity. The tannin is tempered with a character of acorn and oat cake biscuit which give a breadth to the mouth feel. With time in the glass the taste progresses towards a long and rounded texture clipped by cleansing acidity and framed by silken tannins. The mouth flavours have not been altered with any additional fining from animal products so it is an honest expression from our place.
TA: 5.5 g/L
pH: 3.75
RS: 2.0 g/L
This wine has brightness and clarity of light and aroma. There is an air of antiquity in this style yet a new world lift which makes for a very satisfying glass of wine. Warm and delicious, fine yet complex, reflecting its true sense of place. Rich, beeswax, seductive, stone fruit, vibrant acidity, apricot, almond, textural, struck match, long finish, improves with some air.
region: Gisborne, New Zealand
varietal: Chardonnay
style: white
farming/cellar: BioGro Certified Organic | Demeter Certified Biodynamic | Estate Grown & Bottled | Dry Farmed | Unfined | Contains no animal products (Vegan)The grapes were hand harvested and pressed directly to small French Oak barrels. 10% of these barrels were new. Fermentation starts naturally and continues for
3 weeks rising in temperature to about 23C. Some barrels have a secondary malolactic
fermentation to soften the palate and increase texture. After 14 months the wine is then
assembled in stainless steel tanks to rest before being bottled on the property.
pairing: