Forest Hill Vineyard: 'Estate' Chardonnay 2018
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This well-balanced, textured Chardonnay from Western Australia was the top pick of our intrepid explorer Meirion on his 'dolphin spotting' trip Down Under early in 2017.
Tasting Notes
Dry-grown, low-yielding vineyards planted on gravel loam with an underlying clay base (crucial to non-irrigated vines) from three different sites in the Mount Barker region of Western Australia. With the influence of the Southern Ocean, this is an elegant cool climate Chardonnay.
Bright straw with green hues and aromas of white nectarine & citrus peel. Flavours of stonefruit persist on the palate with citrus. Barrel fermentation builds richness, texture and complexing nutty flavours. Finish is long with natural acidity.
| Style | White Wine, Sec, Medium-bodied, Non Sparkling |
|---|---|
| Wine Region | Australia, Western Australia |
| Grape Variety (Cépage) | Chardonnay |
| Food & Wine Matching | Seafood, Thai Food |
| Viticulture | Non-Organic |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Cellarage | Drink 2019 - 2022. |
| Vinification | Harvested in the cool hours of the morning and chilled further before some parcels are whole-bunch pressed and others crushed before pressing straight into French oak barriques (30% New oak). Fermentation takes place at cool temperatures with mostly natural yeast, followed by a partial malo-lactic fermentation. There is some batonnage and the wine is matured in barrel for 8 months to achieve balance before bottling. |
| Alcohol By Volume (%) | 13 |
Producer
Forest Hill Vineyard
First planted in the late 1960s, Forest Hill Vineyard (located in Mount Barker within the Great Southern region of Western Australia) was bought by the Lyons family in 1996. Today, the 95 hectare estate is headed up by Guy Lyons, and is an accredited James Halliday 5 Star winery. The vineyards produce elegant wines of the highest calibre from a wide variety of plantings - Riesling, Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Gewürztraminer.
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