Mt. Beautiful Chardonnay 2016
Type: White
Country: New Zealand
Region: North Canterbury
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Climate: Hot and dry in summer, often cool, clear and frosty in winter
Terroir: Planted on the most northern part of the vineyard and is hand-tended and hand-harvested. The clones are a mixture of French clones B95, 548, UCD15 and UCD1 grafted onto different rootstocks. The vineyard is in charge of dictating the flavour profile of the Chardonnay, so far yielding flavours of peachy stone fruits and creamy almonds
Winemaking: Handpicked in three different batches according to ripeness, then gently whole bunch pressed, resulting in beautifully clear and delicate juice which is ideal for barrel and tank fermentation alike. The barrel portion was reserved for the wines with the best depth of fruit and ripeness of flavour and was fermented in 300-litre hogshead casks (both new and one to two years old). The barrel-fermented wine went through a partial malolactic fermentation. Both tank and barrel batches were aged for 10 months on yeast lees prior to blending in February. They were then lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling
Color: Star-bright, vibrant golden
Nose: Aromas of ripe quince, yellow apple, toast, petrichor, fresh lilies, and baking spice dance around the glass
Palate: On entry the wine shows a cut and definition akin to Burgundy, expanding on the palate to a broad mouthful of pear, Meyer lemon, mineral, and clove complexity
About the Winery:
Mt. Beautiful Founder David Teece is the quintessential Kiwi: curious, adventuresome and utterly devoted to his home country. His family arrived in New Zealand in the 1860s from Shropshire, England, eager to seize fresh opportunities in a country undergoing a massive gold rush. They landed in Lower Moutere, an area known for hops, sheep and dairy at the time, but which has since become regarded as an excellent region for viticulture.
Being raised by generations of farmers shaped David’s work ethic, resourcefulness and business acumen from an early age; being a New Zealand boy through and through instilled in him a deep love of the outdoors, along with the desire to experience everything this rugged, expansive landscape offered. “It’s almost impossible not to be outdoorsy when you are in New Zealand,” David declares.
Mt Beautiful is situated in The Cheviot Hills area in North Canterbury about 100km north of Christchurch on State Highway 1 and 70km south of Kaikoura. The name of their vineyard is inspired by a nearby local landmark. Lying between the vineyard and the sea, the peak protects their vines from coastal winds. The vineyards of Mt. Beautiful have found terroir ideally suited to Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Pinot Noir vines. With ample sunshine to ensure the grapes ripen fully and the cooling effects of the sea breeze to help maintain acidity, the resulting wines are elegant, aromatic and finely balanced.