2018 Chardonnay

Fine straw colour.

Rich peach and nectarines, with nutty French oak aromas.

Stone fruit flavours with a lingering minerality. Great length of flavour with balanced acidity.

This well-structured wine has the potential to age for over 10 years.

Mark O'Leary's Benwerrin vineyard is located at Oakbank in the picturesque Adelaide Hills. Aspect is integral to the production of the highest quality fruit, and at Benwerrin the 20-year-old Chardonnay vines are planted on a northerly facing slope. This combination of the cool climate and long days of sunshine develops flavour and aromatic qualities.

Fruit is harvested and transported to our Clare Valley winery in the cool of night. The juice is then drained and gently pressed, resulting in a fine free-run cut and a pressing component, kept separately in stainless steel tanks. The free-run is transferred to French oak hogsheads for primary and malolactic fermentation. Once complete, the barrels are lees stirred weekly for four months. This adds further complexity to this single vineyard Chardonnay. After several months, this wine is racked to tank, chilled and filtered prior to bottling.

Lees stirring enhances richness and adds layers of complex yeast autolysis characters. This method also protects the wine from oxidation.

Alcohol - 12.0%

pH - 3.27

Acidity - 6.2g/L

91 points (silver) - Halliday Wine Companion