Catalina Sounds Chardonnay 2023 13% 750ml

Catalina Sounds Chardonnay 2023 13% 750ml

TASTING NOTES

AROMA

The aromatics are interwoven with layers of toasted hazelnut, brioche, vanilla, and a little shredded coconut.

PALATE

At first taste it’s soft and seamless with ripe stone fruit, and a creamy mid-palate rich in weight and very seamless. This is an approachable, Chardonnay lovers Chardonnay that can be enjoyed on its own or with food.

REGION NOTES

The 2023 Catalina Sounds Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from two vineyard sites – our estate vineyard Sound of White and a dedicated grower vineyard in the central Wairau Valley. The differing soils of glacial clay loams and silty gravels provide the perfect environment for balanced vines where yields are naturally low and leaves are removed from the fruit zone to expose bunches to the warm Marlborough sun throughout the day.

FOOD MATCHING

A range of seafood dishes, hard cheeses and creamy pasta and chicken dishes.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

This wine will continue to drink well over the next 5 years if stored correctly.

VINIFICATION

The two parcels that create the Catalina Sounds Chardonnay were harvested on the 23rd and 31st of March 2023 respectively. Golden bunches were lightly pressed to tank for settling over a day, leaving very cloudy juice to ferment in both a 4000 L oak cuve and eleven 500 L French oak puncheons of which a very small portion (5%) were new. After 10 months on lees, the individual components were blended, lightly fined and filtered. Uniquely Catalina Sounds.

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2023 vintage was late to start due to a wetter weather and cooler temperatures up until December. Fine, warm weather from January through harvest kept fruit pristine and created suitable conditions for extra hangtime on the vine, which provided increased flavour concentration, exceptional varietal purity and laid the groundwork for some brilliant wines.