in the vineyard : To ensure complexity in the Chardonnay we use two different clones of Chardonnay from two different sites for the Paul Cluver Chardonnay. The grapes are harvested and vinified separately in French oak barrels from three Burgundian Cooperages.
Aspect: South, Southeast and Southwest.
Hectares: 13.57
Planting date: 1987 to 1988
Clones: 270 and 175
Rootstock: 101-14 Mgt and Richter 99
Planting width: 2.5m by 1.0m
Average production over last 3 years: 6 tons/ha
in the cellar : After destemming and crushing the grapes were given skin contact to extract flavour, the juice were settled overnight and transferred to French oak barrels from three different cooperages (80% new and 20 % 2nd fill). Two thirds of the barrels were then inoculated with a burgundian-isolated yeast and a third of the barrels were not inoculated and left to ferment naturally with the wild yeast population present on the grapes. This part of the wine took three to five weeks longer to ferment, which gives a lot of richness complexity to the wine.
After the fermentation the lees were stirred once a week to enhance the yeast autolysis, this also add complexity and mouth feel. The stirring of the lees keeps the wine reductive thus it was left on the lees without sulphur in the barrels for 9 months. After tasting and blending trails the wine were blended, stabilized and bottled.