De Bortoli Sacred Hill Semillon Chardonnay 2009 Australia (case of 12)

Appearance
Brilliant straw yellow with a hint of green.

Bouquet
Lifted quince and citrus with tropical stone-fruit characters, complimented by subtle herbaceous characters and a whisper of toasty oak.

Palate
A very focused wine, showing great depth of flavour. An impeccably balanced palate finishes long with crunchy acid and tasty oak.

Vintage Conditions
The lead up to the 2009 harvest in the Riverina was one of the best on record, refreshing rains during Spring and mild December temperatures resulted in flavour intensity and superior acid structure. The end of January saw an unprecedented heat wave of 40°plus for 14 days which resulted in delayed ripening - overall the vintage was good to excellent.

Winemaking
Premium parcels of local fruit were picked at peak flavour ripeness showing concentrated varietal characters. Selected parcels of wine (20%) underwent MLF to soften the edges, create texture and lend character. Both Semillon and Chardonnay components were fermented on French and American oak for up to three weeks to facilitate complexity and palate definition. Select parcels had extended lees contact to add texture and mouth feel to the final blend.

Cellaring
Excellent drinking on release and will drink well for a further two years.



General Characteristics
Dry Medium Bodied