Wine Article
2011 Felton Road Chardonnay Elms
Last edited on 6/16/2019 by LindsayM
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Tasting Note
A vibrant nose of citrus blossom and white peach with hints of stone and earth. The palate begins with texture and lithe intensity; fresh, but with a serious undercurrent of minerality, then moves into growing complexity, combining tension and stones with a rewarding richness. There is significant length to this wine, reflecting the extended elevage on lees.
Vintage
The growing season was most unusual with spring being the warmest and most stable to date and no frosts. We experienced a very early, fast and successful flowering which resulted in solid crops across all varieties. We were relieved to see things cool down in January, which set the pattern for a cooler and wetter mid-season. The description “wetter” must be read with respect to our normal very low rainfall, so still not a lot of rain. The weather settled for a flawless and warm Indian summer during harvest. There was no rain and the harvest started very early on March 21. We see the wines as being less overtly fruity (possibly a good thing as overtly fruity wines can appear one dimensional and simple) with reasonably firm structures and a pleasant kind of rusticity about them. Precision, mineral and tension will be good descriptors for the 2011’s.
Vinification
Chardonnay from Elms vineyard was whole bunch pressed followed by wild yeast fermentation entirely in stainless steel tanks, which preserves the primary fruit flavours. Ageing on full yeast lees and complete indigenous malolactic fermentation has produced a delicate wine with complexity, balance and finesse. A small portion was aged for 5 months in neutral barrels resulting in virtually no oak influence.
A vibrant nose of citrus blossom and white peach with hints of stone and earth. The palate begins with texture and lithe intensity; fresh, but with a serious undercurrent of minerality, then moves into growing complexity, combining tension and stones with a rewarding richness. There is significant length to this wine, reflecting the extended elevage on lees.
Vintage
The growing season was most unusual with spring being the warmest and most stable to date and no frosts. We experienced a very early, fast and successful flowering which resulted in solid crops across all varieties. We were relieved to see things cool down in January, which set the pattern for a cooler and wetter mid-season. The description “wetter” must be read with respect to our normal very low rainfall, so still not a lot of rain. The weather settled for a flawless and warm Indian summer during harvest. There was no rain and the harvest started very early on March 21. We see the wines as being less overtly fruity (possibly a good thing as overtly fruity wines can appear one dimensional and simple) with reasonably firm structures and a pleasant kind of rusticity about them. Precision, mineral and tension will be good descriptors for the 2011’s.
Vinification
Chardonnay from Elms vineyard was whole bunch pressed followed by wild yeast fermentation entirely in stainless steel tanks, which preserves the primary fruit flavours. Ageing on full yeast lees and complete indigenous malolactic fermentation has produced a delicate wine with complexity, balance and finesse. A small portion was aged for 5 months in neutral barrels resulting in virtually no oak influence.