Jordan

1999 Jordan Chardonnay

Description

Spectacular panoramic views of Stellenbosch and Cape Town, cool hillside vineyards planted to classic varieties, and a modern family-run winery have combined to produce distinctive wines displaying the ripe concentrated fruity accessibility of the New World, with the complex elegance of classic wine styles.

Variety

100% Chardonnay.

Vineyards

Harvested from mature vineyards (11 – 14 years old) of selected Davis and Burgundian clones. The vineyards are situated on cooler south and east-facing slopes (250-310m above sea level). Vertical hedge trellising and low yields ensure a complex concentration of flavours. The vineyards are unirrigated.

Harvest Date

The grapes were harvested between 8 and 22 February 1999 at between 22.3º and 24.5º Balling.

Winemaking

The juice was barrel-fermented in a selection of 228 litre Burgundy-shaped French oak barrels (61% new and 39% second-fill Nevers and Burgundian oak barrels from selected French cooperages). The wine was matured “sur lie” in the barrel for 9 months with occasional “batonage” to accentuate the leesy character. 20% tank-fermented Chardonnay was blended with the barrel-fermented wine to ensure a good balance of citrus flavours. Both the tank and barrel-fermented Chardonnay underwent malo-lactic fermentation.

Tasting Notes

A barrel-fermented Chardonnay. Full creamy/citrus flavours with an elegant, well-balanced, rich, leesy finish.

Analysis

Alc: 13.7%, TA: 6.1g/l,  pH: 3.46, RS: 3.5g/l