Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay 2024

Located in the heart of Central Otago on New Zealand's South Island, the Bannockburn vineyard on Felton Road stretches across sunny slopes overlooking the Kawarau Valley. The Chardonnay plots are planted in loess and broken schist soils, which offer natural drainage and low vigor. The cool continental climate, characterized by significant temperature variations and abundant sunshine, allows the grapes to ripen slowly. This combination of southern latitude, altitude, and poor soils imparts precise tension and a pronounced mineral expression to the wine.

The grapes are harvested by hand, sorted, and then gently pressed as whole bunches. The must is gravity-fed into French oak barrels, where fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is complete. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in barrels, with a moderate proportion of new oak, and without excessive stirring to preserve the purity and tension of the fruit, before bottling without fining or heavy filtration.

This wine reveals notes of ripe citrus , stone fruit , and crisp apple , complemented by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances, and a subtle hint of toasted oak . Mineral accents and a delicate nutty note add complexity and depth. The palate displays a creamy texture supported by vibrant acidity , offering precise balance, beautiful concentration, and a long, saline finish that leaves an impression of purity and elegance.

Introduced in 1819, vine growing was greatly developed by Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, a French Marist missionary. Sent to Oceania in 1837, he settled there from January 1838 onwards to develop New Zealand's vineyards. The first quality vineyards were established in the Hawke's Bay region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After setbacks caused first by phylloxera and then by the First World War, the vineyards began to expand again during the Second World War, when their area doubled. Today, New Zealand has 10 main wine regions spread across the North and South Islands, the largest of which is Marlborough. Most of New Zealand's wine regions have a maritime climate. The country's long, narrow shape means that vineyards are never more than 120 km from the coast, and most are much closer than that (with the exception of the semi-continental Central Otago region). A spine of mountains running down the centre of the country shields most of the main wine regions from the strong westerly winds off the Tasman Sea known as the "Roaring Forties". Because of these winds, there are few wine regions on New Zealand's west coast. The quality and reputation of New Zealand wines are well established. Indeed, the country produces some of the best and most renowned Sauvignon Blanc in the world. And it is no coincidence that New Zealand has made Sauvignon Blanc its emblem, just like its sheep, its kiwis and its legendary haka!