Corofin Chardonnay Brawn Vineyard 2020

A mere 3km from the ocean, Brawn (Glover) Vineyard lies south east of the Wairau Valley floor, with fertile Kaiapoi silt loam soils deposited by flooding, over centuries, of the neighbouring Ōpaoa River. Organic farming encompasses native boundary plantings supporting the life force of the property. Complete fruit intensity is moderated with a coastal salinity, lending accuracy and amplification of site. An exciting addition to the Corofin grower portfolio. BioGro certified.

Although temperatures September 2019 through March 2020 were above the long term average, conditions were still considerably cooler than the previous two seasons, which were both well above average. The growing season was particularly dry and moderate with only 43 mm of rain December through April. Budburst was a little early and coupled with the dry season and moderate temperatures in January and February, brought picking forward slightly, although harvest was still 10-15 days later than in 2018 and 2019. Physiological maturity with a longer growing season was welcomed, with settled autumn weather providing no pressure on picking.

Hand-harvested on 2nd April 2020. Whole bunches were loaded and pressed slowly over 6 hours to a small stainless steel tank with a smaller, harder press fraction separated on taste and discarded. No enzyme or sulphur additions were made during or post pressing. After settling, the main press fraction was moved with a high percentage of solids to a combination of 500 litre seasoned French oak puncheons and one 300 litre stainless steel barrel, for fermentation. Primary fermentation took five days to naturally initiate and 4 weeks to complete. A full and natural malolactic fermentation finished early January 2021, after which the young wine was topped and remained on original lees in barrel, without stirring or sulphur, until April 2021. The components were then racked together to tank and sulphured where they remained on lees for a further five months until bottling in November 2021. This wine was bottled without fining or filtration.