Clear yellow. On the nose, delicate aromas of apple, pineapple, honeydew melon and custard combine with delicate nuttiness and toast. Well-balanced palate offers additional flavours of peach and grapefruit with the suggestion of minerality. Smooth and creamy in the middle with a toasty acid-balanced long finish.

Winemaker's Notes:
This Chardonnay was sourced from our two vineyards, the "Moira" and the Malivoire Estate vineyards both on the Beamsville Bench. Two thirds of the fruit came from our sustainably farmed Estate vineyard, planted to Dijon clones in 1998 at a vine density of 3625 vines per hectare. The damaging winter of 2004-2005 reduced yield by 40%. An early spring was followed by a hot, sunny summer producing concentrated fruit of the highest quality.

Each vineyard was individually hand harvested as each block reached optimum maturity at an average of 23.0° brix, 7.5 g/l titratable acidity and a pH of 3.3. The fruit was whole cluster pressed to a maximum of 1.1 atmospheres. Then the juice was cold-settled and racked. 36% was barrel fermented, the first batch to enter our new barrel cellar, while the remaining 64% was stainless steel fermented, all completing malolactic fermentation. Barrels chosen were made from Vosge oak, all sourced from Burgundy tonnelleries Berthomieu, Billon, Ermitage and Mercury. After eight months of ageing on the lees, these two treatments were blended. The finished wine of 14.0% alcohol was bottled under Stelvin® closure on August 8, 2006. Drink now until 2009.

Food Pairings:
This wine can enhance your enjoyment of a variety of foods with distinctive flavours. Lobster, splake, sable fish, fruit-infused roasted pork, poultry or pasta with white sauce, and mild cheeses are cheerful companions.

Wine Reviews:
"A truly hand-crafted wine, this Chardonnay was hand picked and underwent weekly stirring of the lees during its time in barrel. The result is a complex, medium-bodied wine with aromas and flavours of apricots, tropical fruit, coconut, and pear. It's well-balanced with a streak of minerality and well-integrated oak." - Vintages Circular

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Last Updated: 17-Oct-06