Sinapius Close Planted Chardonnay 2019

Pipers River & Pipers Brook

Sinapius

94 Points - Hlliday Wine Companion

Green grape and a hint of white stone fruit round out an array of calming fruit tones, with a lingering perfume of white flowers. Sitting calmly between primary and richness of development. A savoury profile, with hint of piquant oak spice still giving a punctuation.

Colour maintains a youthful green highlight to the pale straw. Still with creamy soft oak vanilla wrap, the soft mealy and pastry base tones are another portent to the youthful nature of the wine. Lemon and grapefruit rind with a refreshing vigour of briny sea spray. Neatly weighted, a likely result of the high density, low yielding vines, with a finely etched tail of Pipers acidity providing quiet intensity. A fine example of medium term cellaring from this exceptional vineyard.

Pairs beautifully with duck, venison, roast lamb, mushroom dishes, and aged cheeses, with its vibrant red fruit, fine tannins, savoury complexity, and earthy depth complementing rich and elegant flavours.

Grown exclusively from our dry grown, high density planted blocks. 7,700 – 9,615 vines per hectare, and 9 different Chardonnay clones, harvested at less than 1kg per vine. The grapes were handpicked at 11.5-12° baumè, then pressed to tank without enzymes. Lightly settled overnight, then transferred to barrel retaining most of the solids. Wild yeast fermentation and maturation in 600, 500 litre and 225 litre French oak barrels (15% new) for 12 months. 100% malolactic fermentation.