Felton Road - Block 2 - Chardonnay 2021
Felton Road is located in Bannockburn , a sub-region of Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand . He is one of New Zealand's best known and most respected producers. Considerable research by Stewart Elms (hence the tree logo, 'Elm' meaning 'Elm') in 1991 identified the north-facing slopes at the end of Felton Road in Bannockburn as one of Central Otago's warmest and most ideal sites for growing and producing premium wine. The Estate comprises four vineyards on warm, north-facing slopes in Bannockburn: the original Elms Vineyard (14.7 hectares), Macmuir Vineyard (5.1 hectares), Calvert Vineyard (4.6 hectares) and the Cornish Point vineyard (7.6 hectares). The vineyards are managed by winemaker Gareth King and his team of dedicated associates. Since 2002, the vineyards have been managed organically and biodynamically; organic compost is made from organic cellar waste, cow manure and straw. In 2010, all four vineyards achieved full Demeter certification . Felton Road harvests the grapes by hand and follows the philosophy of minimal intervention in the winery: with gravity-fed systems, indigenous yeasts and no fining or filtration. Wood is a subtle companion.
Chardonnay Block 2 is made from the Chardonnay Mendoza clone of Block 6. Block 2 was planted in 1992, on a gentle east-facing slope. The whole bunches were pressed and settled overnight, then the juice was poured into barrels by gravity in the underground cellar. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels of marked toast (without new oak) and was followed by a long and complete malolactic fermentation . After 16 months in barrels (including 11 months on the coarse lees) , the wine was racked into vats for bottling.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay