Description
The fruit for this Chardonnay was grown in vineyards in Veramonte’s Estate in the beautiful Casablanca Valley, which is a cool climate area on the north western side of Chile’s coastal range, less than 30 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. Their estate occupies the extreme eastern end of the valley and is noted for its gentle Pacific breezes and early morning fog, providing an exceptionally long growing season for grapes to mature naturally with intense of fruit flavours.
When perfectly ripe. the grapes were hand harvested at night and early morning to preserve freshness and whole cluster pressed. They were fermented in stainless steel tanks using native yeasts, with 15% of the wine then aged in neutral oak barrels for eight months. This was then carefully back blended with the wine from the stainless-steel vats to achieve the ideal balance of flavours.
The wine is light golden yellow in colour and shows fresh and expressive aromas of pear, quince and lemon curd, interwoven with toasty oak notes. The palate shows delicious fruit flavours of citrus, pineapple and white peaches enhanced by pleasing acidity and a touch of sweetness. The part oak ageing adds vanilla, butter and toasty notes, and also enriches the Chardonnay’s softness and creaminess without losing its freshness.
This is an outstanding Chardonnay; complex and beautifully balanced all the way to its elegant, lingering finish. One of the very best we have tasted for ages.
Excellent wine for light meals, salads and seafood.
Awarded 91 points by the acclaimed wine writer Jame Suckling.
