Audrey Wilkinson Winemakers Selection Chardonnay 2018

The 2018 vintage was a great vintage in the Hunter Valley. A dry winter followed by good spring rainfall led into a warm and dry ripening period which resulted in yields that were slightly down but quality was very high.

Straw yellow with green hues in colour, this wine display lifted aromas of green pear, nectarine and grapefruit with hints of cashew and flint from the oak.

The palate is bright and zesty with rich flavours of green apple and nectarine leading to a crisp acidity and a textured, creamy mouthfeel with a long finish.

Grapes for this wine were sourced primarily from a number of specific sites on the the Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard. Vine material varies from our original 1973 Lake Block Chardonnay, to 20 year old cuttings of the same block, through to more recent inclusions of Burgundian clones.

Estate grown grapes were hand picked then lightly pressed to tank and allowed to settle before being racked to new, 1 and 2 year old French oak barrels, at which time they were topped up with 4% lees to increase autolytic characters.

100% of the wine was matured in oak for 8 months, with 30% going to in new French puncheons and barriques, with the remainder going into one and two year old French puncheons and barriques and topped up with 4% lees.