{"product_id":"2023-rikard-chardonnay","title":"2023 RIKARD Chardonnay","description":"\u003cp\u003eA textured and full-bodied, classically made cool climate Chardonnay in the stone fruit and melon spectrum. The exceptionally long, cool growing season that led into the 2023 vintage meant that we were able to achieve wonderful depth of flavour in our Chardonnays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhysiological ripeness was easy to achieve because of the length of time the grapes spent on the vine. The cool Autumn nights meant that acid retention was high also. Made from carefully selected fruit grown at high altitude in the Orange wine region in the cool 2023 season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur RIKARD “Blue-label” Chardonnay is made in a generous, soft, full-bodied and rich style, with cool-climate elegance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChardonnay grapes are picked once they reach a physiological ripeness that shows stone fruit and melon characters, with a rounded and full mid-palate weight. Flavour and texture are key to this wine and so we take care to minimise the impact of new oak which can risk dominating the flavour profile. Structure and tannin are imparted instead by utilising pressings and skin contact components. It is a wine that should look fabulous in its youth and still develop gracefully with age. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe exceptionally long, cool growing season that led into the 2023 vintage \u003c\/strong\u003emeant that we were able to achieve wonderful depth of flavour in our Chardonnays. Physiological ripeness was easy to achieve because of the length of time the grapes spent on the vine. The cool Autumn nights meant that acid retention was high also. A great combination!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMultiple small batches were all treated as individual wines until blending, giving us a large assortment of components to choose from for this label. It is a great way to build complexity into a wine by mixing these components and this vintage has it in spades. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandpicked into shallow 10kg baskets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5 separate picks between 31\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e March and 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e April 2023.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 separate vineyards from 850m to 1000m ASL.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressed slowly and gently. Free run and Pressings portions separated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSettled 24hrs then racked cloudy to barrel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWild fermentation in 228L French Oak barriques.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLees-stirred weekly for 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e 3 months, 1-2 monthly after that.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLightly sulphured after completion of natural malo.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e11 months elevage in barrel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlended Feb 2024 and rested in rank for 8 months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo fining or heat\/cold stabilisation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRacked and coarsely filtered before bottling Spring 2024\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLOUR\u003c\/strong\u003e – Pale straw with a green hue. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOSE\u003c\/strong\u003e – Honey dew melon, nectarine and white fig initially on the nose, with delicate floral hints. There’s and overlaying whiff of shortbread, some hazelnut and roasted lemon. Lightly toasted oak and some caramel too. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePALATE\u003c\/strong\u003e – A very even palate, nicely weighted, generous with nothing overtly poking out. There’s a lovely pithy, citrus-led acidity and backbone upon which other fruits are laid; apricot, peach, starfruit and fig. Texturally, it’s grainy and with plenty of phenolic grip to keep it firm. It finishes predominantly savoury - the nuttiness and oak components nicely nestled in there together. The acid re-emerges at the tail end, cleanses and prepares your mouth for another sip.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RIKARD Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45794939011116,"sku":null,"price":47.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0719\/5567\/7228\/files\/blue-chard-2023webres.png?v=1783906632","url":"https:\/\/rikardwines.com.au\/products\/2023-rikard-chardonnay","provider":"RIKARD Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}