Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2022

$99.00

Product Notes

A tight, mineral wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.

SOIL: Low-vigour, stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil
ALCOHOL: 13.20%
ACID: 6.40 g/l PH: 3.36
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.00 g/l
BARREL FERMENTATION: 56% 228 litre, 40% 300 litre French Oak Barrels
FOUDRE: 4%
BARREL AGEING: 9 Months 1ST FILL: 23% 2ND FILL: 17% 3RD FILL: 17% 4th FILL: 43% TIGHT GRAIN: 100%
FRENCH COOPERS: 100% Francois Freres
TOASTING: Hamilton Russell Vineyards Toast
YIELD: 3.87 tons/ha, 23.22 hl/ha
PRODUCTION: 5 601 cases of 12 bottles equivalent
Release date – January 2023
Growing Season The timing of our 2022 harvest was similar to 2021, but a touch later than average, and our average of the maximum temperatures for the 4 crucial months leading up to and during harvest was 25.18 centigrade, higher than our long-term average of 24.63 centigrade and higher than 2021. While ripening was slow and extended, harvest was fortunately complete before the first rains in early March. The preceding winter had been our wettest in 24 years and was followed by a slightly wetter-than-average bud break to veraison period, but with an unusually (and usefully) dry September facilitating healthy, even budding.
Apart from cold, wet, early season clay-rich soils inhibiting shoot growth, and a few late season heat spikes creating the potential for sunburn, the vintage proceeded smoothly and delivered beautiful, pure, generously textured wines. Yields, as always, were low, with chardonnay coming in at 3,87t/ha (24hl/ha).
Wine Style: A tight, mineral wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Unusually prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.