Grape Varieties
100% Chardonnay
Winery
Kim Crawford Wines was established in late 1996, when Kim launched a range made from fruit grown in the South Island. Despite taking a back seat in the winemaking of these wines over the past few years after the business was taken over by Constellation in 2005, and more recently retiring from the business entirely, the team of winemakers Kim has established continue the classic Crawford philosophy and style. The company’s control over its own grape supply has ensured that quality remains at its current very high level. It now has a stake in over 100 hectares of vineyard in the Marlborough region, while most of the rest of their fruit comes from growers with whom they have developed long term arrangements, something that means they can ask the grower to reduce yields or pick exactly when they decide the time is right. All of this has resulted in better fruit, which in turn means better wines.
Winemaker
Jules Taylor
Viticulture
The grapes for this wine come from selected vineyards in Marlborough. Cooler sites were selected so that the grapes obtained full ripeness while retaining good levels of natural acidity. The grapes came from the three main Chardonnay clones– Mendoza and Clones 6 and 12, and were sourced from vineyards throughout the Wairau Valley.
Winemaking & Maturation
The juice was cold settled post pressing and racked after three days, it was then warmed and inoculated with selected yeast strains. Once through ferment the wine underwent full malolactic fermentation to soften the palate.
Tasting Note
Light lemon yellow in colour, with youthful greenish highlights. On the nose the wine is fresh and clean, with an attractive citrus and apple perfume giving way to a well-balanced, zesty fruit on the palate.
