2023 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay

Chardonnay, at its best, possesses an energetic quality, an elusive characteristic shared by great wines despite the versatility of the grape variety. This energy is a testament to the winemaker’s skill in preserving the vineyard’s message and telling the story of the terroir. The Chardonnay from The Family Vineyards reveals ripe citrus and white peach, complemented by herbs and lime zest. The wine’s fleshiness is balanced by mineral notes.

The Vineyards:

The Family Vineyards Chardonnay is a masterful blend from three different vineyard sites on the Newton Johnson farm. The vineyards are situated on well-drained, gravelly soils rich in quartz, pink feldspar and mica, which grade down to clay deposits. This clay retains water and high concentrations of trace minerals, creating a complex microbial ecosystem that contributes to the wine’s crystalline flavor profile. The southern facing Chardonnay vineyards yield wines with lively acidity, while the northern facing slopes produce brighter wines with weight without heaviness and layered structure.

Winemaking:

The grapes are harvested by hand and arrive at the winery cool and fresh after an overnight chilling. All bunches are hand sorted to ensure only the best fruit goes to the press. Whole bunch pressing produces the highest quality juice, approximately 40% of which is transferred directly to the barrel.

The wine matures for 11 months in a combination of barriques (228L) and puncheons (500L) barrels, manufactured in Burgundy and specially adapted to the vineyards. After barrel maturation, the wine undergoes a further 5 months of élevage in stainless steel tanks to refine its character.

FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to collect the wine you will often also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Collect' on the checkout page.