Foundstone Unoaked Chardonnay 2020 from Berton Vineyards
Bob Berton makes this fantastic white wine for one reason only, because he loves to drink it! This is a stunning value for money white wine that will amaze you with its tropical flavours and sophisticated style.
Established by Bob & Cherie Berton in May 1996 with 75 acres of land at 450m above sea level on gently rolling hills in a sub-region of Eden Valley in South Australia. The superb Reserve Shiraz and Reserve Chardonnay wines are still sourced from this plot. In 2007 Bob purchased the Yenda winery in the heart of the Riverina. This state of the art facility has the capacity to process 10,000 tonnes and allows Berton Vineyards to produce value for money wines that sit alongside his premium single-vineyard offerings.
Vinification
The Chardonnay grapes were cool night-harvested at 12.5 baume. The grapes were de-stemmed and crushed, pressed and cold settles, before being racked off lees and inoculated with specially selected yeast strains. The ferment was carried out in stainless steel tanks at 13 degrees. After fermenting, the wine was then immediately racked off yeast lees and filtered, stored in stainless steel tanks ready for blending. This wine has had no oak treatment and was bottled under screwcap closure retaining freshness and the true varietal character of chardonnay grapes grown in the Riverina district of NSW.
Viticulture
All vines have been spur pruned. Vine age is varied. Vines are planted roughly 1.8m apart with 3.6m between the rows to allow machinery access. The trellis system is generally a single wire cordon.
Tasting Note
This Foundstone Unoaked Chardonnay offers a rich and creamy mouthfeel that leads to lovely soft tropical fruits and orange zest on the palate. Zingy acidity underpins the flavours and keeps them lingering on the palate. Many customers have appreciated this wine with Thai cuisine and have often commented on the tropical fruit flavours saying they thought it was Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc it was that lovely. Most people cannot believe this is Chardonnay as it is not the typical style for that grape.
Everyday Serving Suggestion
Enjoy with grilled fish, light chicken salad or just as an aperitif, also great with vegetable sticks!
Country / Region / Appellation
AU / S.E. Australia / S.E. Australia
Winemaker
James Ceccato & Tim Perrin
Additional Resources:
http://www.bertonvineyards.com.au/
