2024 Kōparepare Marlborough Chardonnay
$21.00
TASTING NOTE
Kōparepare (gift or contribution in Te Reo Māori) is a passion project from Whitehaven Wines. For every bottle sold, we donate to LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring marine abundance in NZ.
Colour / Appearance: Bright mid-straw.
Aroma / Bouquet: Elevated fruit aromas of grapefruit, apricots and white peach with butterscotch, toasted hazelnuts and oaky spice nuances in the background.
Palate: A rich, dry, medium to full-bodied wine. Ripe stone fruit and biscuit flavours are supported by a creamy and seamless texture. This finish is well rounded, with hints of toffee and gentle buttery notes.
Cellaring: Enjoy now until 2027.
Food Match: This wine is particularly suited to creamy mushroom pasta, poultry and pairs well with seafood dishes.
Serve: Lightly chilled.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: <1g/L
Acidity: 5.1g/L
pH: 3.55
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
Climate: Unlike the previous two years, the growing season leading into 2024 vintage began after a dry winter, with the soil water balance in deficit. Fewer inflorescences generally and then a protracted flowering window in November and December, resulted in poor fruit set and fewer berries per bunch than the average in most areas. Dry conditions persisted for the duration of the growing season, minimising disease threats and resulting in clean fruit at harvest. A spell of warm weather through later December and January, in combination with the lighter crop, resulted in a rapid physiological advancement against the long-term average. This trend continued until the start of harvest in early March. Fortuitously, the headwaters of the Wairau and Awatere River systems received enough rain to keep irrigation systems open through the season and into harvest, at which point cool, crisp days became the norm.
Grape Growing: The fruit for this wine is a blend of three Chardonnay clones - Mendoza, Clone 15, and Clone 95 - sourced from Pauls Road and Rothay vineyards. Both vineyards are in the Rapaura area of the central Wairau Valley. Vines are trained to two or three canes on a vertical trellis, with balanced pruning, shoot thinning, tucking, and trimming to achieve an open, healthy canopy and clean, ripe fruit.
Harvest Dates: Multiple picks from the 7th of March - 24th of March, 2024.
Winemaking: The fruit was hand-picked and immediately whole cluster pressed. The juice was lightly settled before being racked and inoculated for fermentation. Halfway through fermentation, the wine was transferred to French oak of which 8% was new oak and 92% older. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was aged in barrel, on lees, for 10 months to aid texture and richness on the palate.
ACCOLADES
- "It's finely expressed on the nose, showing apricot, rock melon, nougat, almond meal, and lemon peel aromas. The palate delivers silky flow and juicy fruit flavours, splendidly framed by bright acidity, making it harmonious and elegantly flavoursome. At its best: now to 2028." 91/100 points (4.5 stars) - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- "Jasmine, ripe nectarine and lemon peel with a touch of toast and oatmeal on the nose. The palate is broad and smooth, with peachy richness through the mid-palate, a flicker of fresh pineapple, and a creamy texture wrapped in subtle spice. Ripe, fresh and easygoing with enough weight and balance to keep it gliding, not drifting." 90 points (4.5 stars) - The Wine Writer
- "Bright, even, pale yellow. The nose is full, with aromas of stonefruit, citrus, rock melon and brioche. Medium-full bodied, aromas of grapefruit, nectarine and rock melon melded with vanilla and brioche. The fruit is lush, supported by invigorating acidity. Creamy and toasty elements elevate and contribute to its layers and mouthfeel. An amiable, succulent Chardonnay. Match with fulled pork and poach chicken over the next 3 years." 18+/20 pts (91 pts), Candice Chow for Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
