Tiki Estate Maui Chardonnay – Hawke’s Bay 2017 (12 Bottles) Marlborough, New Zealand

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COLOUR: A delicate, pale straw green.

NOSE: Exhibits a very strong combination of Clone 15 Chardonnay fruit, complex toasty oak and yeast lees along with subtle malolactic fermentation aromas.

PALATE: A full-flavoured Chardonnay delivering clear varietal flavours supported by a fullness and creaminess derived from extended time on yeast lees in barrel. Full malolactic fermentation has helped to soften the wine and add complexity of flavour that is supported by a subtle oak background from the barrel-aging.

VINEYARD REGION: 100% Hawke’s Bay

VINTAGE CONDITIONS: The weather conditions were variable with some rain pressure late in the season. However the warm summer allowed the Chardonnay fruit to attain full maturity while still retaining a good level of natural acidity to ensure freshness and flavour. Climatically there were a few challenges but nonetheless harvest decisions were able to be made on flavour ripeness.

WINEMAKING: The fruit was harvested at optimum ripeness from the vineyard that encompasses the winery. It was then whole- berry pressed using a Champagne cycle with no press cuts. Pressing was followed by cold settling to clarify the juice. The clear juice was fermented in new and seasoned French Oak Barriques with a selection of Chardonnay yeast and then went through a full malolactic fermentation to add complexity to the palate. After fermenting in barrel, the wine was aged for ten months on yeast lees with fortnightly stirring to encourage extraction of yeast mannoproteins that aid with palate weight and roundness.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
5 STARS – Wine Orbit, Feb 2020
91 POINTS – Cameron Douglas MS, Sept 2019
4 STARS – Michael Cooper, Buyers Guide 2021