A lively and complex chardonnay with great poise, elegance and finesse. 
The 2011 growing season at Medhurst was cool and wet, making it both challenging and exciting. The high spring rainfall created difficult conditions to manage vine health and the cool summer preserved delicate flavours and brightened the acidity in the wine. We commenced harvest a month later than for the previous season, reflecting the cool conditions.

The 2011 Medhurst Chardonnay is made from 3 separate batches harvested on separate days. Each batch was whole-bunch pressed and underwent wild fermentation on full juice solids in barrel, which enhances complexity and texture. 70% of the final blend also went through malolactic fermentation to soften the acid profile of the wine. The Medhurst Chardonnay normally never has this occur, again a reflection of the cool growing conditions and high acidity of the season. 

This is a wine that will live for a decade, and indeed demands careful cellaring to achieve its full potential. As a young wine, it has tremendous freshness, vitality and spirit, with delicate fragrance and lively palate. With time in bottle, the texture will build and the wine will soften and yield greater complexity and depth.