Lawson'S Dry Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2017

Tasting Notes

The nose shows lovely complexity with brioche, lemon, subtle floral notes, flint and smoky oak. The palate has a gentle power and focus from the fine, citrussy acidity. The predominant fruit character is lemon which is overlaid with chary French oak and mealy, wild ferment characters.

Vineyards and viticulture

The grapes for this wine are from our Chaytors Road Vineyard where coastal breezes, and moderate temperatures allow gentle ripening. This block is situated on the banks of the Wairau Diversion where the silts and river stones are a perfect combination for our 16 to 20-year-old Mendoza clone chardonnay vines.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed. The juice was briefly settled before being racked to French oak barrels (25% of them new oak). The juice was ferment ‘wild’ and then left to undergo malolactic fermentation which softens the acidity from sharper malic acid to the softer lactic acid. The wine was racked from barrel and carefully blended prior to being bottled here at the winery.

Cellaring

Although delicious in its youth, this wine will reward the patient wine lover over the next four to eight years

Food Match

Full-flavoured seafood dishes, chargrilled white meats, roasted chicken dishes, pork, roasted vegetables especially pumpkin, creamy sauces, richer shellfish, coconut-based curries, risotto, slightly stronger cheeses such as English cheddar, sweetcorn, roasted capsicum and more.