Chardonnay 2005

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Chardonnay 2005

THE WILLOW 2005

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Background:

All Heydon Estate wines are the product of single vineyards with fruit estate grown on our old Wilyabrup property in the heart of the Margaret River appellation.

This wine is 100% Mendoza clone from our old Chardonnay block.

The 2005 vintage in Margaret River, whilst outstanding, could have been recorded as the “vintage of all vintages”, had it not been for a few rain events in March and April. Ripening for all varieties was even and optimum, resulting in white wines which display fresh varietal characters typical of cooler vintages. Winemakers have reported that Chardonnays picked in early March are outstanding.

VIGNERON GEORGE HEYDON’S COMMENTS:

An attractive bright golden straw colour.

The bouquet offers a complex amalgam of mineral notes combined with fruit and flowers of citrus, citrus blossom, lemon myrtle and white flesh peach. Nutty characters of toasty hazelnut and cashews abound with hints of honey present. A complex nose.

The citrus characters carry to the palate where our balanced use of finest French oak barrels allows for full expression of Chardonnay fruit. An intense wine, finishing clean and long.

Enjoyable by itself, our wines excel with food.

VINIFICATION:
The fruit was hand picked on 8th March 2005.

Fruit was whole bunch pressed and fermented in barrel, with a mix of natural and inoculated yeast strains. Battonage for 2 months. 10% was allowed to undergo malolactic ferment providing textural complexity.

Maturation for 10 months in 100% French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% second use.

WINE ANALYSIS:
Alc/Vol: 14.2 %
Acidity: 7.5 g/l
pH: 3.20
Residual sugar: <0.5 g/l