2024 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 testifies to the winemaker's craftsmanship in preserving the message of the vineyard and telling the story of the terroir. The Chardonnay from The Family Vineyards reveals ripe citrus and white peach, complemented by herbs and lime peel. The fleshiness of the wine is balanced by mineral notes.

The Vineyards:

The Family Vineyards Chardonnay is a masterful blend from three different vineyard locations on the Newton Johnson farm. The vineyards are situated on well-drained, gravelly soils rich in quartz, pink feldspar, and mica, transitioning into lower-lying clay deposits. This clay retains water and high concentrations of trace elements, creating a complex microbial ecosystem that contributes to the wine's crystalline flavor profile. The south-facing Chardonnay vineyards yield wines with lively acidity, while the north-facing slopes produce more lustrous wines, with weight without heaviness and structure in layers.

Winemaking:

The grapes are harvested by hand and arrive cool and fresh at the winery after cooling overnight. All bunches are sorted by hand to ensure that only the best fruit goes to the press. Pressing whole bunches ensures the highest quality juice, of which approximately 40% is transferred directly to the vat.

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

FUN FACT: In the 'Attachments' tab, you will find the official factsheet for this fine wine. We will automatically send this to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page.