Clairault Estate Chardonnay 2006
Blend 100% Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
Mild straw in colour. The aroma shows pure fruit flavours of sweet honey-dew melon combined with toasty sourdough, vanilla and truffle aromas from the barrel and lees ageing. The aroma is subtly complex and layered. The palate is tightly bound with firm acidity but coated with a lovely fine texture that runs through the palate and lingers on the finish.
Will Shields’ Winemaking Notes
Very low yields and a cool vintage have helped to create a wine that has both elegance and power. Sourced entirely from our block L Chardonnay, which is a north facing block behind the winery. The fruit is hand picked to allow for whole bunch pressing. After a minimal settling, fermentation is carried out in barrel (33% new). Natural or wild fermentations account for about 50% of the blend. Oak subtlety is achieved through the use of high quality French barriques from trusted Burgundian coopers, combined with regular lees stirring (batonnage) and malo-lactic fermentation (MLF). MLF occurs on only select parts of the blend to soften acidity and build complexity and texture. Maturation in barrel varies from nine to twelve months before blending and bottling.
