Elston Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay — 2020
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Introduction
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Produced since 1984, Elston Chardonnay is grown at Te Mata Estate’s oldest vineyards on the hillsides above the winery. Elston is named for Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire, the ancestral home of Charles Darwin’s family. Darwin’s ‘theory of natural selection’ forms the basis of modern evolutionary theory, the foundation of biology. The wyvern symbol of Elston Hall appears on the label.
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Vineyard Profile
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The superb quality of the 2020 vintage was immediately apparent in the fully ripe grapes that were hand-harvested from their separate, individual plots within Te Mata Estate’s Havelock Hills vineyards between February 28 – March 3, 2020
- Appellation: Hawke's Bay
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Vinification
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Each parcel was gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled and racked to new and seasoned French oak barrels for fermentation. The resulting wines remained in contact with their yeast lees, with a number going through malolactic fermentation. The finest lots were selected for further maturation, spending a total of 10 months in barrel.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- TA: 6.4 g/L
- p H: 3.15
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Tasting Notes
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Brilliant lemon-gold, Elston Chardonnay 2020 has the immediate aroma of lime blossom, fresh golden nectarine, creamy nougat and delicate meadow flowers. Freshness and ripe acidity shine in a palate laden with peach, citrus, pineapple and oyster shell highlights. With texture, depth and stunning brightness of fruit, Elston Chardonnay 2020 has a clarity and focus that radiates right through its long and luminous finish.
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Images
Reviews
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Elston Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay — 2020 – Vinous – 91 Points
"The 2020 Elston is a round and textural Chardonnay. A delicate, seamless style. There's a light woody oak note in the background, but it allows the ripe peach fruit to shine. The ripe acid on the finish makes your mouth water, and yet this is a satisfying and mellow expression."
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Elston Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay — 2020 – Wine Enthusiast – 93 Points
“A strong vintage for Te Mata and the Hawke's Bay region in general, this release of Elston strikes a fine balance between fruit ripeness, freshness and oak. Lemon and pineapple aromas are vibrant above seashell and creamy oak nuances. The palate shows lovely slippery texture, crystalline acidity and concentrated fruit. It's supported, not dominated, by the wood. A persistent citrus finish makes it easy to take another sip.”