Fruit and Acidity in harmony

Handpicked from individually selected rows on our 300 acre estate.

This unique cool climate wine is derived from three different French Chardonnay clones. Each clone has provided a different flavour profile, that combines beautifully to give layers of complexity.

The light touch of French oak used, subtly enhances the fruit flavours of bosche pear, peach, nutmeg and spices.

Tash's Notes

We have several Chardonnay blocks on the vineyard and we pick these at different times according to ripeness. The various blocks are made up of different clones and each clone has its own flavour spectrum that is individual. We pick several clones earlier to get lemon and citrus flavours and characters and other clones we pick later to get peach and rockmelon flavours.

We pick the clones when we see these flavours coming through. The fruit is hand picked and travels to the winery where it is pressed and the grape juice is separated from the solids. The juice is then put to ferment which is undertaken with a part fermentation with native yeast and the balance with inoculated yeast which is especially suited to Chardonnay fruit flavours and which we believe will give us the best wine.

We have two to three tanks of Chardonnay and to one of these tanks we add no sulphur in a process called oxidative treatment. This adds different characters to the wine, more ripe peach, a bit of struck match and mango also. It also creates a wine with ultimately less SO2.

Fermentation starts at 18 deg C and then goes down to 12 deg C for the duration. We then look at some quality oak treatment using French oak in 50% of the wine for 3 to 6 months before getting ready for bottling.

Colour
Light Straw

Aroma
White peach and apricot with nutmeg and spice

Palate
A rounded and full fruited palate, very peachy flavours from the cool climate vineyards and a complexity of honey and nutmeg. This wine contains three clones of Chardonnay from the Sidewood vineyards which gives the wine real complexity.

Food Pairing
Drink with snapper or Atlantic salmon dishes. The creaminess of this Chardonnay also goes perfectly with cheese dishes such as a goat's cheese souffle

Cellaring
With careful cellaring, this wine has the potential for 6 years

Download Tasting Notes PDF

Download Tasting Notes PDF

Awards

International Cool Climate Wine Show 2012

Silver

Cowra Wine Show 2012

Silver

Adelaide Hills Wine Show 2011

Bronze

National Cool Climate Wine Show 2010

Bronze

International Wine Challenge 2011

Bronze

Hong Kong International Wine Competition (HOFEX) 2011

Silver

Reviews

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2012

Pale colour; cool, slightly under-ripe nectarine bouquet, show zest and vibrancy on the palate; fleshy and precise, with the oak only making its presence felt on the very finish.

Rating 90

Winestate Magazine

Tight, youthful, cool-climate style with very fresh citrus aromas and a full-flavoured palate with high level acidity.  Rating 3.5/5 stars

Australian Wine Showcase Magazine May 2011

Rating 93

erobertparker.com – Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Sidewood’s 2010 Chardonnay gives pronounced ripe Chardonnay aromas of melon, green mango and pink grapefruit with a touch of toastiness. Medium bodied with crisp acidity, there’s a bit of silkiness to the texture and a long, pure finish. Drinking now, it should continue to be delicious to 2014. Rating 87

Wine Spectator

Light and silky, with grapefruit and floral flavours around a good core of peach fruit, finishing smooth.Rating 90

Wine Showcase Magazine 2012

Rating 89