Oraterra Martinborough Chardonnay 2023 $70 
Labelled with an artwork by Leanne Williams “In The Presence” and crafted by a team which began life at Dry River wines, this chardonnay has impressive creamy complexity, aromas of baked stonefruit and fennel are licked with pineapple and butterscotch. All these elements osmose across the palate and are bolstered by silky, nougat-like textures, refreshing acidity and a splash of sublime salinity to finish. An elegant and stately sip. Here’s how it came to be:
Farmed at the certified organic old Escarpment Pahi vineyard owned by the McCreanor family planted between 1986-1992, this chardonnay was handpicked, and after a light settling the juice was racked into large format barrels, (300-500 litres) for a spontaneous (wild) ferment. Winemaker Wilco Lam explains that malolactic fermentation kicked off naturally in October and the wine remained in barrel until the 2024 harvest started. It was then transferred into large 1000- litre oak vessels for another 4 months of maturation on lees to build texture and complexity before being bottled. It’s something I’d love to revisit in another 4-5 years time.
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