Audrey Wilkinson Winemakers Selection Chardonnay 2021

The 2021 vintage was very typical vintage in the Hunter Valley. A cool winter followed by a cool and wet spring and early Summer led into a warm and dry ripening period in January resulting in one of the best white vintages in years.

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.

This Chardonnay was hand picked off our 40 year old vines near the front gate of the Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard and lightly pressed to tank. In tank it was allowed to settle then racked to new, 1 and 2 year old French oak barrels and topped up with 4% lees to increase autolysis which contributes a creamy texture. Warm fermentation up to 25°C to increase flinty, matchstick notes. The wine was then matured in oak for 7 months, then lightly fined with skim milk, stabilized, filtered and bottled under screw cap.