Waipara West North Canterbury Chardonnay 2018

Waipara West vineyard and winery is owned by the Tutton Sienko & Hill family partnership, and occupies a distinctive site on the north bank of the Waipara River, with free-draining river gravels, clay-loam soils, and a warm, sheltered microclimate ideal for premium viticulture.

The owners purchased the property in 1989 knowing that, although it was an ‘unsuccessful rabbit infested, sheep farm’, it had a combination of factors suitable for the production of quality grapes. Being further inland and higher than existing Waipara vineyards, it was hotter and less frost prone due to natural air movement caused by the river and the sloping terraces.

Today, their hard work and commitment has paid off, and the estate is known for its expressive Pinot Noir, aromatic whites such as Riesling and Pinot Gris, and structured Bordeaux-style reds.

The wine was made up of four parcels of fruit picked with a whole month going by between the first and last. By varying the vinification processes, every barrel should be different from the next. The first two parcels produced barrels that had steely acidity with green apple and lemon characters. The third parcel was from the river level block and gave barrels with grapefruit pith and salty acidity. The fourth parcel gave old-style Chardonnay power with stone fruit and pineapple. Each barrel developed its own character over 9 months before being combined into one blend in mid-January. The wine was then stabilised, very lightly fined and bottled in March.