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As with our Sauvignon Blanc - but to an even greater extent - yields were kept extremely low for our Chardonnay grapes (we may have the national record in this regard). Great attention was lavished on the vines throughout the growing season with temperature and moisture levels monitored every 15 minutes.
Extremely low yields, netting of the vines to prevent bird damage, extensive hand-harvesting and post-harvest hand-sorting helped to ensure that the grapes that entered the winery were of supremely high quality. Our Chardonnay clones work perfectly in seasons as sunny and drawn-out as those of 2002 and 2003.
At Gravitas, our focus has been to create a Chardonnay of truly great stature and distinction. In earlier seasons when we felt the wine did not achieve this, we sold everything as bulk wine. During winemaking we processed the Chardonnay in over a dozen separate batches, using a range of yeasts, including wild ones, before re-blending.
Complexity and richness was further enhanced by fermenting the wine in seven different types of French oak barriques (largely new and very carefully chosen). Since fermentation, the wine has remained in barrel (sur lie) for a year and more, and during this time has undergone a secondary (malolactic) fermentation.
With this meticulous attention to detail, we believe that we have created a New Zealand Chardonnay that will rival any in the land. This is a beautifully coloured wine that presents regional flavours of stone fruit (especially peach) and a hint of citrus (the former being a feature of the Mendoza clone used in some of the batches). On the nose, pleasant biscuit and toasty notes are prominent as are more restrained notes of vanilla and toffee. The wine is full bodied with a creamy texture and a slightly peppery finish.
This is a powerful wine but one that is balanced with a clean, crisp acidity that lingers on the palate. One of the most complex chardonnays to come out of New Zealand, our Gravitas Chardonnay will mature well in the bottle for many years to come. This wine is an absolute sell-out globally, with firm orders topping 180% of available supply.
