Black Barn Chard Barrel Ferm 07

Following his winemaking time at Church Road, winemaker Dave McKee continued his Chardonnay craft with his move to the new Black Barn winery. In many ways the Black Barn Barrel Fermented Chardonnay has a similar richness and intensity as the Church Road Reserve, only somewhat sleeker. The wine is equally as concentrated but tighter knit. Made from clones 15 and 95, totally barrel fermented with a mix of indigenous and inoculated yeasts and aged 10 months in 40% new barrels, the wine went through total MLF resulting in 14.0% alc. The wine is a benchmark with its concentrated stonefruit and mealy aromas and flavours, enhanced by spicy, nutty oak. Here there is balanced richness and wonderful length. Awarded gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 N.Z. International Wine Shows, and the 2009 Hawke’s Bay A&P Wine Show, plus 5 stars and Top Ten rating in the May 2009 Cuisine magazine tasting.  RC Feb 10

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