Cloudy Bay Chardonnay

Notes - Cloudy Bay Vineyards was established in 1985 by Cape Mentelle Vineyards in Western Australia. The company farms 200 hectares of vines at three carefully selected sites. Vineyards planted in 1986  surround the winery in the Wairau Valley at Rapaura, with additional plantings at nearby Renwick and in the Brancott & Omaka Valley's, in the southern foothills. Five long term contract growers also work closely with Cloudy Bay. The main varieties grown are sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir with lesser quantities of riesling and gewurztraminer. The winery takes its name from the bay at the eastern extremity of the Wairau Valley. It was named Cloudy Bay by Captain Cook on his voyage to New Zealand in 1770. Cloudy Bay Chardonnay has steadily built a stature and reputation in line with that of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are sourced from both estate and contract vineyards within the Wairau Valley. Traditional vinification methods are employed to produce an intriguing and complex wine. These include, wild yeast and malolactic fermentations, prolonged contact with yeast lees and ageing in French oak barriques. Alcohol levels are naturally high and produce a wine with body and viscosity. The dominant fruit characters of melon and peach blend harmoniously with toasty vanillin oak and mealy yeast autolysis characters.
 
     

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