Kelly Washington Organic Chardonnay 2019

With our Kelly Washington Chardonnay we are constantly striving to strike a fine balance between structure, reduction and acidity. A slight change in style to incorporate the use of no new oak, mainly due to volume restrictions ( but also some genuine curiosity! ) has aided in creating a style that is focused even more so on the impact of using a high proportion of lees in small vessels. Showing complex savoury aromas that follow though onto the palate, also notes of melon and almonds. The palate is defined and elegant, yet concentrated and finishes with a long, delicious, citrus acidity.

At Kelly Washington we seek the most unique and diverse parcels of high quality fruit, which we translate into our elegant and honest wines. We work with a fastidious bunch of growers who have a love for the land, and are unrelenting in their pursuit of nurturing exceptional fruit from distinguished sites. Old vines, high density planting, vineyards of altitude, farmed sustainable, organically and/or bio-dynamically are the attributes we seek from the growers we work with.

Sourced from the Rapaura Vineyard, 23 year old clone 15 chardonnay grown on sandy loam over clay.

Hand harvest and 100% whole bunch pressed, the wine commenced fermentation naturally after 3 days, on full lees using wholly native yeast. The wine fermented in two second fill French Oak puncheons.

The wines matured on full lees for 10 months, in the oak vessels above. No stirring. 100% malolactic fermentation was achieved before the wines were bottled unfined, but with a coarse filtration.