2017 Dexter Chardonnay
Analysis at Harvest
Sugar 21.2 – 22.6 Brix
pH 3.33 to 3.38
Acid 7.2 to 7.7 TA
Harvest date 7th, 11th and 18th March
Clones P59 (38%), I10V5 (31%), Dijon (31%)
Vintage Notes
2017 was a long and relatively cool one on the Mornington Peninsula. Cold and wet weather around flowering and fruit set has delivered large variation throughout the region in terms of quality and quantity. Being in a warmer part of the region we ripened our fruit in near perfect condition. Harvest date was later relative to the long term average with a below average crop load. In summary the season has produced good flavour ripeness at lower sugars with bright and intense fruit flavours, nice structure and good acid balance.
Winemaking
Hand-picked fruit was gently whole-bunch pressed into a tank and settled overnight. It was then transferred into French oak puncheons (12.5% New, 25% second use, 12.5% third use and 50% fourth use) and inoculated with a neutral yeast. From May until late winter the barrels were stirred every two weeks until MLF was completed.
For this vintage 30% completed MLF. The wine was left on yeast lees until November when it was transferred to tank to prepare for bottling. The wine was bottled early January 2018, 10 months after harvest.
Wine Analysis
Alcohol 13.3%
pH 3.13
Acid 7.2 g/l
Sugar 0.76 g/l
Nose
Aromas of citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit and lemon and nectarine with subtle oak.
Palate
Similar to previous vintages in its elegance and fineness after a near perfect 2017 vintage. Subtle flavours reflective of the aromas – particularly lemon, grapefruit, stone fruit and elegant oak. The wine has a soft middle palate with good length and a nice acid balance. Similar in structure to the 2016 vintage but perhaps more linear.