Vintage: 2001 I 2000 I 1999
CHARDONNAY
SEVEN POPLARS VINEYARD
HAWKES BAY REGION ~ 2001
Wine Notes
Wine Reviews
Food Match
Send us your tasting notes
YIELD: 8 Tons/ha
BRIX AT HARVEST: 22.5
JUICE ACIDITY: 7.8
ALCOHOL: 13.7
WINE ACIDITY: 5.66
WINE PH: 3.54
VINTAGE AND VINEYARD NOTES
The 2001 vintage was characterised by an unusual growing season, dominated by the effects of a November frost and a subsequent cool early summer. Cropping levels were significantly reduced due to this unusual weather event. The vintage period, while damp, had little rainfall and a number of sunny days, allowing excellent maturity. An intensive viticultural approach followed to advance and produce ripe flavours. Sugar levels were excellent, with slightly higher malic acid levels than either of the 1999 or 2000 vintages. The wine is sourced from a small part of the Dolbel Estate Vineyard that is surrounded by seven large black poplar trees and situated on the banks of the Tutaekuri River in Hawkes Bay. Planted in 1988, the vines in our Seven Poplars Vineyard are reaching maturity. The small berried, highly flavoured grapes were harvested in superb condition on April 1st, 2001.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were hand picked and sorted in the vineyard to remove any unripe or unhealthy grapes, then chilled to 8C overnight. They were hand loaded directly into the press without crushing and gently whole bunch pressed. After a short overnight settling period that retained fine solid material, the juice was separated into two portions. Half was inoculated with carefully selected yeast strains sourced from Burgundian origins and the other half was allowed to undergo primary fermentation with natural vineyard and cellar yeasts. The juice was fermented in 100% French oak barrels, 60% new, followed by full malolactic fermentation in barrel. Regular battonage was conducted to re-suspend the yeast lees, which creates complex biscuit and oatmeal characters. After eight months in barrel, the wine was carefully racked, fined and lightly filtered for bottling.
WINE NOTES
In its youth the wine is pale straw in colour with bright lemon/sunflower hints. Aromatically, it is more intense than the 1999 or 2000 vintages with grapefruit, melon and lightly roasted nuts. The palate is strong on the entry, with ripe peach, lemon and mineral flavours to the fore. The palate is concentrated through the middle and then finishes with a fine long bead of lemon braced acidity. Slightly more forward in style than the 2000 vintage due to the cooler summer, the 2001 shows the characteristic mineral and complex lemon honey characters so typical of this vineyard. The wine should develop over four years from vintage if properly cellared.
FOOD
Roasted, savoury poultry or seafood dishes. Salads with grilled vegetables and roasted grains, nuts or cereals. Great with mature soft and semi soft cheeses.
