Firebird Chardonnay

Download Tasting Note PDF

 2008
 Adelaide Hills
 13.8%
 6.4 g/L
 3.4

Chardonnay is a variety that is well suited to being grown at high altitude in a cool climate such as the Adelaide Hills where it can develop its flavours slowly and retain its natural acidity. The 2008 Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine sourced from our Woodlands Ridge Vineyard. The vineyard is located in Gumeracha towards the northern end of the Adelaide Hills and is high at 480 metres above sea level and is cool with a mean temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius during the growing season.

Viticulture
The 2008 growing season was not without its challenges with a warm and drier year than normal. Early bursts of heat at the beginning of the growing season resulted in rapid shoot growth but moderate temperatures prior to ripening allowed for enhanced flavour development. The fruit is sourced from a section of the vineyard that is aggressively pruned and shoot and bunch thinned to moderate yield and netted to protect quality.

Winemaking
Winemaking responsibilities rest with Peter Leske with support provided by Mark Kozned. Peter’s two decades of experience with one of the Adelaide Hills most renowned wineries provides the platform for the production of our premium cool climate wines. The Chardonnay fruit was hand picked and transported to a cold store to lower fruit temperature
prior to pressing. Forty eight hours later the bunches were gently crushed, destemmed
and chilled further prior to gentle airbag pressing with only the free run juice retained. All
of the wine was fermented in French oak barriques ranging from 1 to 5 years old to add
complexity and creaminess to the palate. The wine spent approximately 7 months on yeast
lees with regular stirring before being racked and fi ned in preparation for bottling.

Tasting Notes
The wine displays fragrant green apple and pear aromas with a hint of spicy oak and delicate brioche dough. The palate is a mix of citrus and lime, white stone fruits, golden pear and fresh nuts with a dry and creamy texture all balanced with crisp natural acidity. Partial barrel fermentation adds texture and complexity.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS