The 2004 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Chardonnay

Information & Tasting Notes

The 2004 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Chardonnay is an excellent example of the estate's "assemblage" philosophy. This dictates the need to select ultra-premium parcels of fruit for the production of individual component wines that will be blended together to create a wine that is greater than any of the constituent parts. The component wines were 100% barrel-fermented, one batch allowed to go through natural fermentation the others fermented with selected yeast strains. One batch was allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation, the others prevented. Final barrel selection resulted in a blend of 38% new, 45% 1 year old and 17% 2 year old, fine grain French oak. The wines were matured on yeast lees in the same barrels for 12 months, with regular stirring of the lees (batonnage), a process which builds the rich creamy flavour. The final blend is the epitome of the reserve style, a complex blend of many flavours and time in the bottle to allow these flavours to sing together. This exceptional cool-climate chardonnay shows distinctive varietal characters combined with subtle French-oak and winemaking influences. A true Reserve wine – the very best of the best. The Reserve Chardonnay 2004 was awarded 94 Points in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion for 2008 - "Glowing yellow-green; a quite elegant mix of grapefruit, melon and nectarine; minimal barrel ferment impact".

Tasting Notes
Colour: The 2004 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Chardonnay is a bright green colour with luminescent gold hues.

Aroma: Nutty barrel ferment characters, poached pear fruit lift and creamy butterscotch notes form an inviting array of aromatics.

Flavour: Soft ripe white peaches, seasoned cedary French oak and a rich creamy yeast derived mid palate combine seamlessly in an elegant style which finishes clean, minerally and moorish.

Technical:
Alcohol:13.5% TA:6.5g/L pH:3.25

Winery: Blue Pyrenees Estate