Wine Specs
Vintage
2021
Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Vibrant pale straw colour with a touch of green hue. On the nose,
white peach, roasted almonds, and fennel, with a mineral wet rock
and a faint struck match aroma. The palate has breadth without
being overblown; a fullness without being fruity. Saline acidity flows
through to the back palate giving the wine line and length. Flavours
are lemon curd and ripe limes with a touch of nutmeg oak.
Vintage
Vintage at Rising Vineyard started on 23rd February with
Gewurztraminer, almost 2 weeks later than vintage 2020. This later
picking was due to mild temperatures and a huge amount of rain
through January. These conditions allowed the grapes plenty of time
to accumulate lots of flavour while still retaining moderate alcohols
– 12. 5 to 13% on average. 2021 was a goldilocks vintage where
everything was just right, and the resulting wines can be consumed
young or cellared for a while. A vintage of balance, energy, and
flavour.
Vineyard
A blend of five blocks f rom the Rising Vineyard in St Andrews – P58
clone f rom Birdwood block, P58 f rom House block, I10V5 clone and
Bernard 76 clone f rom Bibs block, Bernard 95 clone f rom Number
1 block and Bernard 95 clone f rom 95 block – confusing?... yes, it’s
complicated! Hand-picked over a ten-day period in March 2021. Age
of vines varies f rom 19 to 37 years old.
Vinification
All parcels were whole bunch pressed to tank for an overnight settle
before going to barrel with lots of sol ids for ferment and maturation.
French oak is used exclusively, mainly 300L hogsheads of which 15%
were new. A few barrels went through malo but we’re not sure exactly
how many, maybe 10%. The wine rested in barrel for nine months
before blending and bottling in January 2022.
