Langtons Distinguished Classification. A powerful yet elegant wine, enriched by the extravagance of barrel ferments, new French oak and
battonage. Petaluma assembles Chardonnay from an archive of superior blocks in Piccadilly Valley, all are fortuitious microclimes, blessed by slow ripening conditions, very similar to Chardonnay's ancestral home in
La Bourgogne. These splendid sites are closely planted and fastidiously managed through strict regimens of shoot and fruit thinning, to achieve the most meagre yields of peerless quality Chardonnay.
Grapes are all hand picked, a portion are whole bunch pressed, the balance are gently destemmed, chilled and crushed. Following several days days of cold settling, most of the partially clarified juices are filled to a high proportion of new Dargaud et Jaegle French Vosges oak barriques and hogsheads for vinification. Upon completion to sugar dryness, barrels are racked and inoculated through Petaluma's own native bacteria. The unique bugs present at malolactic impart a lovely creaminess and contribute textural mouthfeel. Batches are treated to regular lees stirring battonage over the course of several months, before being racked and rested for the final assemblage.
TASTING NOTESBright, light straw colour. Abundant white peach and nectarine aromas, gentle toasty smoke. A creamy textured palate, refreshing acidity contributes zing to support the distinctive, nutty sweet fruit characters, leading to a dry finish without hardness. A very textured wine with lovely lingering acidity in a drink now style which will evolve beautifully, one of nature's wonders from Piccadilly Valley.