Article by:
Seville Estate
VINTAGE 2014
Winemakers Comments: The Seville Estate Reserve label denotes wines of exceptional quality, and this Chardonnay represents the very best barrels of the vintage from the estate. When selecting the barrels we are looking for wines that show purity of fruit with great balance between texture and acid. These wines have beautiful harmony and will award ageing.
The 2014 season produced great ‘little’ wines, ‘little’ because there wasn’t much of it. Poor conditions during spring flowering meant crops were dramatically reduced in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by up to 60%, later ripening varieties; Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet fared better losing only 10-20%.
The Season started with good rainfall and mild weather during winter. This prompted an early budburst followed by great growth across the vineyard; setting us up for another early harvest. Things stalled during spring with below average temperatures and above average rainfall during September through to December. These conditions brought heavy rainfall and high wind periods during the critical stages of flowering reducing berries per bunch. What was left were great little bunches at approximately 60-80 grams (normally 120-150grams) in Chardonnay and Pinot noir. Small bunch weights, mild weather and low crops meant the quality still had great potential. January and February were both hot and dry allowing verasion to complete efficiently and rapidly ripen the fruit. Once again an early harvest with the first pick of Chardonnay on the 18th February and last block of Cabernet picked on the 8th April. Quality across the all the varieties is exceptional producing good concentration while being elegant, balanced and perfumed.
Vinification: Fruit is hand picked and gently whole bunch pressed. Juice is run directly to tank, settled over night and gravity fed to barrel. Fermentation occurs naturally in barrel. A range of French oak coopers and formats (300L – 500L) with 30% new are sourced to introduce oak complexity. Following primary fermentation, maturation continues on lees for 10 months. Malolactic fermentation is not encouraged.
Tasting Notes: Pale yellow colour with a slight green tinge and a clear hue. Beautiful white peach and melon fruits, flinty sulphides and almond meal aromas. The wine shows purity and focus with stone fruits, white flowers, toasted almond meal and sweet spice. Great mid palate lees complexity is balanced by the sorbet like acidity that gives great length and definition to the finish. Drink 2017 – 2026
Food: Great with white meats and seafood, or just by itself!
Technical Data:
- Alcohol: 12.8%
- Ph: 3.07
- Acidity: 8.0 g/L
Availability: 750ml / 6-packs
$70 / 750ml