Rimu Grove Chardonnay 2006
Winemaker's Notes
Harvest date 4 - 10 April 2006
Sugars at harvest 24.3 Brix
Bottling date 23 March 2007
Cases produced 265
Alcohol 13.5%
pH 3.32
T/A 6.8 gm/litre
100% fruit from the Moutere Hills appellation.
100% barrel fermented in French oak (36% new).
Grapes were picked by hand and whole-bunch pressed,
followed by cool fermentation in 225L barriques.
The wine was routinely barrel-stirred on full lees for 11 months.
Tasting notes
Lively baked apple, juicy pear, citrus, and mineral flavours echo on the long,impressive finish. Fresh and vibrant; smooth round and generous. A nicely
layered wine with elegant sweet nut and toasted oak notes shining through,
this chardonnay has a natural affinity with food. It is drinking well now,
or will mellow and mature gracefully in the cellar until 2014.
Reviews
****1/2, Michael Cooper's 2009 Buyer's Guide to NZ WinesEstate-grown near the coast in the Moutere hills, the 2006 vintage (****1/2) is a high-flavoured wine, fermented and matured on its yeast lees for 11 months in French oak barrels (36% new). Light yellow/green, it has notably concentrated, peachy, citrusy, slightly buttery flavours, a balanced seasoning of toasty oak and good acid spine. Full of personality, it’s drinking well now, but should be long-lived.