2022 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay

Chardonnay, at its best, possesses an energetic quality, an elusive characteristic shared by great wines despite the variety's versatility. This energy is a testament to the winemaker's craftsmanship to preserve the message of the vineyard and tell the story of the terroir. The Chardonnay from The Family Vineyards reveals ripe citrus and white peach, complemented by herbs and lime zest. 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 lie on well-drained, gravelly soils rich in quartz, pink feldspar and mica, passing into clay deposits lower down. 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 southern Chardonnay vineyards produce wines with lively acidity, while the northern slopes produce more lustrous wines, with weight without heaviness and layered structure.

Winemaking:

The grapes are harvested by hand and arrive at the winery cool and fresh after overnight cooling. 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 barrel.

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

FACT: In the 'Attachments' tab you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send this to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Collect' on the checkout page.