THE KING'S BASTARD CHARDONNAY 2021

TASTING NOTE

Charming aromas of candied citrus, ripe peach and honeysuckle are supported by subtle oak notes. The luscious palate demonstrates stone fruit and grapefruit pith complemented by a hint of praline from the extended time in oak and lees stirring. Partial malolactic fermentation has helped to soften the palate while the residual acidity extends the wine to a salivating dry finish.

FOOD MATCH

The King’s Bastard Chardonnay 2021 pairs well with most white meats, pork and seafood. Try it with crispy pork belly with celeriac puree and seared winter greens.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

3-5 years.

ORIGIN

Fruit sourced from selected blocks across our vineyards, Marlborough.

VARIETY

100% Chardonnay.

WINEMAKING

Hand harvesting took place throughout March after which individual parcels were whole bunch pressed. A portion of the free run juice was drained straight to new French oak puncheons while the majority underwent a settling period in stainless steel tanks before being racked to puncheons. Each parcel was inoculated with yeasts designed for mouthfeel and to promote stonefruit characters. After fermentation, the wine was left in oak for 10 months with regular lees stirring to generate opulence and palate weight. To soften acidity, the wine also underwent partial malolactic fermentation. Parcels were blended and filtered in late summer before bottling in March.

ANALYSIS

• Alcohol - 14.0%
• pH - 3.32
• T.A - 5.8g/L
• Residual sugar - 1.0g/L
• Vegan Certified

VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season had an ideal start – early bud burst after a record warm, dry winter (the second warmest since 1932), and an unusually uneventful frost period. Wet weather in the critical months of November and December challenged flowering and fruit set but the southerly position of the Waihopai Valley, with its typically later flowering, protected most of our vineyards from the worst impacts.

Harvest started early due to optimal grape ripening from dry summer months and record sunshine hours. Fruit was harvested in pristine condition with a calm, steady flow undeterred by significant rain mid-harvest.

Despite smaller yield we captured fruit flavours at their best aided by the absence of vineyard disease, an overall moderately warm, dry season, and proactive harvest plans. The team are very excited by the quality of harvest 2021.

GOLD

• New Zealand International Wine Show 2022
• Aotearoa Regional Wine Competition 2022

5 STARS

• WineOrbit: Sam Kim 2022

"Immensely complex and engaging, the wine shows ripe stone fruit, grapefruit, vanilla, savoury pastry and spicy oak characters on the nose with a hint of flinty overtone. The concentrated palate delivers refined texture and silky mouthfeel, wonderfully framed by fine acidity. Sophisticated and captivating with a persistent gratifying finish. At its best: now to 2030."

93 POINTS

• Cameron Douglas MS 2023

"Bright, youthful, fresh, fruity, varietal and lifted bouquet of fresh stone fruits and sweet grapefruit, layers of vanilla, custard, some quietly spoken barrel spice qualities and a fine lees complexity. Dry with a satin-cream mouthfeel, medium+ weighted on the palate with a fresh acid line and core fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet from peach to apple, citrus to barrel spice. A complete wine with best drinking from 2023 through 2027."

• The Real Review: Bob Campbell 2022

"Crisp, tangy chardonnay with nectarine, white peach, green apple, oyster shell, citrus and subtle nutty oak flavours. Vibrant wine with underlying power. Can be appreciated now but promises to develop well with bottle age."

17.5/20 POINTS

• Drinksbiz’ Annual Chardonnay Report: Joelle Thomson 2023