Winemakers Collection Chardonnay 2010
$85.00
Osawa vineyard's finest wines are called the Winemakers Collection. These are the ultimate wines Rod McDonald is able to make from our vineyard. We do not produce the Winemakers Collection every year as the wines must be above a certain standard before Rod will add his names to the wines.
Sourced from a small area within the vineyard, where we believe we have uncovered our best soil, rootstock, clonal combination. It represents less than 5% of our total Chardonnay production. 100% barrel fermented with wild/natural yeast and twelve months on yeast lees to build the desired complexity, we still want the wine to be taut and fresh and exhibiting ripe citrus, minerality, hints of roasted nuts and toasty aromas with savoury overtones derived from extended contact with yeast lees.
Winemakers description
Exhibits ripe citrus, minerality, hints of roasted nuts and toasty aromas with savoury overtones derived from extended contact with yeast lees. A rich full-bodied wine displaying flavours of ripe citrus, nuts and figs with a chalky textural element to a palate that finishes long and persistent.
Awards 
Pure Gold – Bragato Wine Awards 2011
Gold - Hawkes Bay A & P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards 2011
5 Stars - Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
Hawkes Bay Chardonnay
Chardonnay. Hawkes Bay provides ripeness with a wonderful lemon and grapefruit aromatic, yet achieving ripeness on the palate at moderate sugar and balanced acidity.
The same level of ripeness in Marlborough often delivers a more tropical character, slightly less classic. Central Otago tends to be more flintly and mineral, but can exhibit a green edge and lack texture on the palate.Winemaker's Notes
Detailed notes: Download PDF
Reviews
Raymond Chan - ★★★★★
Fruit hand-picked, WBP and fully barrel-fermented with wild yeasts to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 80% new French oak barrels, the wine undergoing batonnage over 8 months. Bright straw-yellow colour with light golden hues, pale on rim. The bouquet is powerful and tightly packed with aromas of ripe grapefruit allied to very powerful nutty oak, with lees and creamy elements. Dry and very full-bodied, the flavours are initially shy and restrained, showing an integrated amalgam of ripe yellow stonefruits and citrus fruit with nuts and oak spices. The palate has a concentrated core and rounded, creamy mouthfeel, with some alcohol warmth noticeable. The acidity is discreet, but provides a subtle tension, The finish blossoms with expansive and very long and sustained flavours of toast and grilled nuts from the oak. This is a very powerful, nutty flavoured, mouthfilling Chardonnay. Serve with roasted poultry and pork over the next 4-5+ years.
Wines are sold in multiples of 6 bottles. You are welcome to order any combination of wines to make up 6 bottles.
