|
2 0 0 5
This wine is produced from grapes grown on the
higher reaches of the Barossan Hills near the Rowland Flat township.
The grapes are picked at a time to optimise the flavours of the fruit
and to produce styles indicative of this classic variety.
The 1847 High Patch Chardonnay has produced in
alternate years two different, special and unique wines. The wooded
style is one of soft, full flavours, showing the typical fruit
characteristics of the variety and was aged in French oak casks for
three months prior to bottling, thus developing a rich creamy texture
showing the subtleties of vanilla oak. By contrast the unwooded style
shows freshness of fruit with delightful pronounced flavours and a
clean, crisp finish. Two different styles of one easy drinking variety.
THE VINEYARD
The wines of ‘1847’ are produced from
grapes grown in vineyards located in and adjacent to the Rowland Flat
Township.The soils of the area are of mainly Terra Rossa which
comprises red brown sandy loams mostly overlaying a limestone base. The
Township is approx 190 m above sea level, about 40km inland from the
coast with an average rainfall of about 500 – 550 mm. The High
Patch Chardonnay grapes are grown on the rolling hills overlooking the
Township, a little higher elevation and subject to cooling summer gully
breezes.
WINEMAKING
The grapes for the 2005 Chardonnay were picked on
February 22nd as the fruit was showing good ripeness with ideal sugar
and acid levels. The treatment of the grapes differed from the
’04 in that they were crushed and controlled fermented and
allowed to rest on the Lees for a few weeks before bottling. The
resultant unwooded style lends itself to crisp fresh drinking in
it’s early years whilst developing a roundness and fullness of
flavor as it ages.
TASTING NOTES
This limited premium release Chardonnay is a clean
unwooded wine with tropical fruit bouquet and flavors providing a
lingering palate and a nice well rounded mouth feel. A wine that drinks
well young with crisp and fresh palate and flavor, but will take some
years of bottle age. This wine is ideal drinking as a reward to oneself
or as an accompaniment to full flavored lighter style meals such as
spicy Asian or Chicken variations. The low volumes of this wine
produced have diminished the show opportunities given insufficient to
meet most commercial class minimums.
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE
The 2005 ‘1847’ High Patch Chardonnay
was made in two distinctive packages. The 750mL bottle, the usual
package for the wine, and a strikingly elegant long, delicate 500mL
bottle made for Fine Dining and Alfresco style restaurants. Outstanding
wine, beautifully presented with the 750mL in screw cap and the 500mL
under cork with hand dipped waxed seal over.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Region : Barossa Valley, South Australia
Variety : Chardonnay
Sugar at picking: 13.00 Beaume
Closure : Screw cap for 750mLm, Cork for 500mL
Alcohol : 12.7%
pH : 3.41
Titratable Acidity : 7.18
Reducing Sugar : 3.00
Bottle Barcode : 500mL 9333410003028, 750mL 9333410003011
|
