2023 Kenzie Mangatahi Chardonnay
Flint and citrus, chamomile and white stonefruit. A crunchy, chalky texture with flavours of granny smith apples and light toast. Brilliant acidity and a grapefruit zest finish.
Only 2232 bottles produced.
Flint and citrus, chamomile and white stonefruit. A crunchy, chalky texture with flavours of granny smith apples and light toast. Brilliant acidity and a grapefruit zest finish.
Only 2232 bottles produced.
Flint and citrus, chamomile and white stonefruit. A crunchy, chalky texture with flavours of granny smith apples and light toast. Brilliant acidity and a grapefruit zest finish.
Only 2232 bottles produced.
Details
Mangatahi
The Mangatahi vineyard of Osawa sits on ancient river terraces formed by the braided Ngaruroro River. Planted in 2006, the terraces are made up of greywacke stone with a topsoil based of volcanic ash, alluvial gravels and silt loams.
Located inland and between two mountain ranges the organically farmed vineyard benefits from low rainfall, warm days and cool nights.
Season
La Nina dominated the 2023 growing season, creating volatile weather patterns, and a cool Spring and Summer period that never saw a day over 30 degrees. Late January and early February saw some extremely wet periods culminating in cyclone Gabrielle. We were lucky that most of our vineyards escaped the worst and the vineyard guys were right on their game.
A somewhat Indian summer followed, which eased the pressure and allowed our fruit to ripen perfectly and slowly with fine and restrained flavours.
Winemaking
Chardonnay – 100% - Clone 15
Handpicked fruit was wholebunch pressed direct to 500L French puncheons with full solids. 20% of which was new oak.
After a few days, wild fermentation spontaneously started and progressed for 21 days with a maximum temperature of 25 deg C.
Post fermentation the wine was stirred a few times and left to mature at cool temperatures.
50% of the puncheons progessed through malolactic fermentation while minimal sulphur to the other 50%.
After a total of 9 months of barrel maturation the wine was racked to tank for bottling.
No fining or filtration.
Alc - 12.5%
Flint and citrus, chamomile and white stonefruit.
A crunchy, chalky texture with flavours of granny smith apples and light toast.
Brilliant acidity and a grapefruit zest finish.