Main Divide Chardonnay 2022

The Season

Settled weather in North Canterbury during December provided optimal conditions for flowering. A very hot summer then enabled the fruit to ripen beautifully. Our free draining stony soil helped mitigate the effects of some late summer rain, and the ensuing dry autumn meant the fruit was harvested in excellent condition.

Harvest and Wine Making

We use traditional Burgundian winemaking methods. The fruit was hand-picked in stages during early April and then the whole bunches gently pressed. The non-clarified juice was then put into large French oak barriques, where it underwent primary fermentation by the grapes’ natural yeasts. The wine was then matured in these barriques on its own yeast lees (sur lie). In the summer after harvest, it started to go through spontaneous secondary (malolactic) fermentation. It was regularly tasted during this time and the fermentation was stopped when the ideal balance was obtained. It had approximately 12 months maturation prior to bottling. 

The Wine

It is lemon/straw in colour, with delicate aromas of white peach and citrus, together with some underlying savoury notes of toast and hazelnut. There is also a hint of struck match, adding complexity and a flinty minerality. The wine has satisfying concentration on the palate, however remains elegant and focussed, with refreshing acidity and a lingering finish.

Wine in moderation is a natural health food