Kershaw Chardonnay Deconstructed Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY95 is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The inspiration for this Chardonnay stems from my belief that the Elgin region has both a signature grape as well as particular terroirs within its demarcated boundary that reflect regional credentials. This Chardonnay was selected from a sub-region of Elgin from a specific vineyard and an individual clone.
Tasting Notes: Sourced from a parcel in the Western part of Elgin the 95 clone is known for its excellent quality creating wines that are aromatic, fuller bodied and rich yet tightly structured, well–balanced with length of flavor, managing to show restraint and mouth-watering passivity with a great line through the palate and fruit veering towards white peach flesh and nectarine. On Bokkeveld Shales it brings amplified perfume on the nose and persistence and elegance to the palate.
Winemaking:
Grapes were hand-picked in the early autumnal mornings, placed into small lug baskets and tipped directly into a press before being gently whole-bunch pressed up to a maximum of 0.6 bar or until a low juice recovery of 580 liters per ton was obtained. The juice gravity-flowed directly to barrel (no pumps were used at all) without settling. The unclarified juice had no enzymes or yeast added to it and therefore underwent spontaneous fermentation until dry, with malolactic discouraged. The wine rested in barrel for 4 months prior to judicious sulfuring and a further 7 months’ maturation in barrel before racking and bottling.
Review:
"Minerals and a hint of flint on the nose. The expressive minerality of this wine also shows on the palate with complementary light stone fruit notes. Aged in 50% new 228L oak aging for 11 months."
- International Wine Review (Richard Kershaw Lifts Elgin To New Heights, February 2019), 95 pts
Marques de Casa Concha Heritage is made from 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, & 4% Petit Verdot.
Deep, dark red in color with lush flavors of cherries, blackcurrants, blackberries, cedar, and a bit of black tar. It shows a tremendous concentration of flavors and a smooth, almost silky texture framed by a firm tannic structure that truly stands out at the beginning of the long finish.
This wine pairs beautifully with grilled, roasted, or braised red meats and game in sauces that have a bit of acidity, with tomato or wine or with herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. A perfect wine for most cheeses.
100% estate grown red blend from renowned Puente Alto terroir. Chile’s most acclaimed DO. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes are destemmed and crushed for fermentation, which takes place in closed stainless steel tanks with daily pump overs throughout the entire 10-day process. The new wine remains in contact with its skins for approximately 10 days, when it is devatted and malolactic fermentation is allowed to take place naturally.
The wine then underwent 16 months in French oak barrels, 40% first use, 60% second use.
El Mariscal vineyard is 600 meters above sea level and is made up of 52.95 hectares, of which 46.23 correspond to Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.52 to Cabernet Franc and 2.20 to Petit Verdot; and it has a density of 5,500 plants/ha, vines that come from mass selection and are mostly on loam. Meanwhile, Don Melchor vineyard is 650 meters above sea level and is made up of 125.96 hectares, of which 112.67 correspond to Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.28 to Cabernet Franc, 2.45% to Merlot, 1.28 to Petit Verdot and 8.28 to ground in rotation. It has a density of 2,000 to 4,000 plants/ha, and the new one (20%), planted between 2004 and 2017 and with a density of 8,000 plants/ha. The vines come from pre-phylloxera mass selection and are on loam. The vineyards are located in the Puente Alto denomination of origin, on the northern bank of the Maipo River, specifically on the river’s third alluvial terrace, which is one of the oldest and that instills great character and elegance to the wines that come from there. The soils are of alluvial origin, rocky, poor in nutrients, and highly permeable due to the amount of gravel in the subsoil, which enables excellent drainage. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean with a strong influence of the Andes Mountains. This is the coldest part of the Maipo Valley. Its pronounced daily temperature oscillation of approximately 18ºC extends the grape ripening process, concentrating and intensifying its aromas.
Review:
Black pepper and cherry give way to hints of chocolate after some aeration in the glass. The same notes show on the palate and blend with bell pepper. This red comes from the alluvial soils in the D.O. Puente Alto and is full bodied, with a firm structure. Moderate acidity is enough to freshen up the finish.
-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points