Hans Herzog Estate - Marlborough Chardonnay

Chardonnay 2020

Regular price $65.00 Sale

For Burgundy lovers! Think Premier Cru Meursault, exquisitely complex and tremendously concentrated revealing incredible silkiness and depth. Compelling aromas of tropical fruit and white flowers. Persistent straight through to the last reverberant sip, showing the generosity and rounded texture of delicate barrel maturation where it flourished to a triumph of Chardonnay. Naturally beautiful and ageless…

Vintage 2020+

Chardonnay, a progeny of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc is responsible for the finest white Burgundy. With the right vineyard site, yields not too high, acid not too low, and winemaking skilled, Chardonnay does produce thrilling, savoury, dry, full-bodied wines that will continue to improve in bottle for more than a decade. A perfect wonderful sunny, long dry season lead to an early vintage. With our small team in different bubbles, we handpicked perfectly healthy, flavourful berries, ripened to perfection from the 24 year old vines amidst a national lock-down.

Hans' Winemaking Comments+

The destemmed and partially crushed (30% whole berries) healthy grapes were left to an extended cold maceration to extract the superb flavours. Then gently pressed directly into used 500 litre French oak puncheons for a natural (wild yeast) alcoholic fermentation with no residual sugar left. The fine lees has been regularly stirred assisting to its remarkable silkiness, complexity and depth. With 18 month in the same barrels to mature and flourish, this Chardonnay will develop into something even more heavenly with bottle age. No cold stabilization. Unfined (vegan) and only lightly filtered to retain all the goodness.

Tasting Notes+

Burgundy lovers will rejoice. Elegant, pure and refined with depth and silky texture. Layers of flavours unfold, ranging from white peach to just a hint of lemon zest in this immensely concentrated wine. A finely balanced acidity keeps this rich wine bursting with a vibrant energy, making sure it last at least a decade in a proper cellar. There is a lovely minerality in the long and concentrated dry finish. Tasted: 10th December 2021.

Technical Data+
Variety     100% Chardonnay
Clones Mendoza / Dijon clones
Rootstock

SO4 / 3309 / 101.14 / Riparia Gloire / Schwarzmann

Vine Planted 1996
Soil  Shallow (<45 cm) well drained sandy and gravelly soil with clay-sand patches from stony alluvium.
Planting Density   5,500 vines/ha
Yield  2t/ha
Alcohol 13.5%
Residual Sugar  <1g/l
Total Acidity 4.7g/l
Ageing Potential 10+ years (if kept at constant temperature under 14 degrees Celsius)
Bottles Produced 2230 (4 French puncheons)

 

Food Matching Suggestions+

The beauty of Chardonnay is its versatility - it matches practically everything. A wine to sip and savour...

Industry Reviews+

James Suckling - 94 points

8 Mar, 2023 – Aromas of apple tart with brioche as well as toffee and butter cookie. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy texture and a creme caramel finish. Rich yet featherlight at the same time. Drink or hold.