Week 7 - MULDERBOSCH CHARDONNAY 2008

                                           

VITICULTURAL PRACTICES

Name of Wine                                                      Mulderbosch Chardonnay 2008

Varietal                                                                  Chardonnay

Area                                                                       Stellenbosch

Soil Type                                                                                                                              Tukulu, Glenrosa, Hutton, Decomposed
                                                                                Malmesbury Shale

Age of vines                                                         19 to 20 years

Trellising                                                              Vertical trellis / 3 cordon wire

Vine Density                                                         ± 3 300 vines / ha

Yield                                                                      7.5 tons

Irrigation                                                                                                                              Yes, drip irrigation

Picking date                                                         8 - 16 February 2008

Grape Sugar                                                         23.1 ° Balling at harvest

Acidity                                                                  7.0 at harvest

pH at harvest                                                       3.49 at harvest

Total production                                                 4771  x 12

WINEMAKING PRACTICES

Fermentation temperature                                 13° – 25° C

Method

The grapes were hand picked from the Koelenhof area and spent two hours on the skins, after which it was pressed to tank and cold settled overnight.  35% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks.  The remainder of the wine was fermented with its own indigenous yeast in French oak barrels, 76% in new barrels and 24% in second fill barrels.  The wine underwent no malolactic fermentation and was left on the gross lees for eight months.  It was then lightly fined and filtered before being bottled. 

Wood ageing: 65% in French Oak (225L) barrels for 8 months blended with 35% tank  fermented.          

                                                                 

WINE DETAILS

Residual Sugar      7.97 g/l       pH                       3.43                        Total SO2             116

Alcohol                  13.26%        Total Acid          6.55g/l                     Free SO2                27

Maturation potential            This wine is drinking beautifully now, but has the ability to mature for another 4 to 7 years.

TASTING NOTES

Lime zest, mineral salts, ripe cut pear and flint notes dance a merry jig on the nose whilst an array of white nectarine, oatmeal and even a hint of walnut tempt the palate. A rich textured mid palate and complex spicy oak nuances are supported with an invigorating/fresh acidity that yields to a persistent finish and farewell notes of pecan pie and squashed grapefruit that linger on and indulge your senses.

SUGGESTED FOOD COMBINATIONS

Fresh Tuna Carpaccio;  duck roasted with a ginger-citrus sauce;  snails;  roast lamb with rosemary;  seafood pasta and smoked fish spring rolls.

ACCOLADES

2008 Vintage:   ««««« John Platter

2007 Vintage:   90/100 in Wine Enthusiast,

2006 Vintage:   «««« in John Platter 

2005 Vintage:   «««« in John Platter 

2004 Vintage:   «««« in John Platter; 89/100 in USA Wine Spectator (October 2007 issue)

2003 Vintage:   «««« in John Platter 

2002 Vintage :  Won a silver medal at the Chardonnay-du-Monde International Competition in France; ««««in John Platter; 92/100
                           in USA Wine Spectator 

1999 Vintage:   90/100 points in the Wine Spectator – 15 May 1999.

1995 Vintage :  «««« John Platter 

1998 Vintage :  «««« John Platter 

1996 Vintage :   John Platter’s ‘Pick of the Bunch’

1994  Vintage :  Listed with SAA; ««««  in  Wine Magazine

1993 Vintage  : «««« in  Wine Magazine; «««« John Platter

1992 Vintage :  «««« John Platter; Gold at the London Wine Challenge