It might be getting cooler, but it doesn’t need to be warm to enjoy a glass of chardy, especially one as sophisticated as this. The practice at Brokenwood is minimal oak maturation when making chardonnay, so they are generally out of the oak well before spring, a practice that must work for them as this wine is consistently rated 95 or higher. As a result the flavour of the wood is lighter than usual. Pear and citrus aromas with a background of the aforementioned mealey oak, which carry through to the palate plus some subtle tannins and sweetness. The mouthfeel is finely textured, with additional layers of bright citrus and tropical acidity.
ACCOLADES AND AWARDS:" Gold Medal - Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2014 Gold Medal, Trophy: Best White Wine, and Trophy for Best Wine of the Show - North East Victorian Wine Show 2014 James Halliday: 95 Produced from the high quality Dijon clones, hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed and barrel-fermented (33% new), with some lees contact and stirring prior to bottling. The intensity of the white peach and grapefruit flavours has seen the wine soak up the oak, with a touch of struck flint as much as oak itself the consequence of barrel fermentation. A sophisticated and modern style.
James Halliday: 97 (2012) Highly skilled winemaking at work, commencing with early picking of the Dijon clone grapes, hand-picked and whole bunch-pressed to French oak (one-third new) for a wild yeast fermentation; white peach, grapefruit and green pineapple illuminate the crisp, flinty palate and its long finish protected by the suppression of mlf.
FROM THE WINERY: The success our neighbour (at Beechworth) Rick Kinzbrunner at Giaconda has had with Beechworth Chardonnay highlights the quality of this region. Different soils, aspect, clones & age of vines on the Indigo property will lead our Chardonnay in a different direction but with minimum winemaker input, the region still expresses itself. Following the successful 2012 Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay (two Trophies and three Gold medals) we needed a prefect winter and growing season of 2012. We got just that with 670mm through winter and then a perfect dry, warm summer. Picking was again early to capture the vibrant fruit characters.
Don't Pay: $50.00
WBW Rating: 95/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Hunter Valley, NSW
Winemaker: Iain Riggs
Drink now until: 2020
Alc/Vol: 13 %
