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2001 McWilliams Hanwood Chardonnay

Riverina, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
$8. 99
Bottle
$107.88 Dozen
Closure: Cork

Notes sourced from McWilliam’s Wines

Our Hanwood winery was established in 1917, when John James McWilliam brought 40,000 vine cuttings by bullock dray from Junee to Hanwood. These were the first vines to be planted in the new Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The winery is now a large, modern facility, producing a range of famous table and fortified wines.

Very hot conditions during the ripening of the grapes in January and February produced high levels of maturity resulting in ripe fruit flavours. The grapes were machine picked during cool times of the night and day. Fermentation time was 12-50 days. Grapes from each vineyard were kept separate using different methods of crushing, pressing and different levels of SO2, enabling many different styles of Chardonnay to be produced. 50% of the Chardonnay juice was barrel fermented and the remainder fermented in tanks while a portion was allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. Once fully fermented, the wine was transferred into oak barrels to increase complexity. The barrels were topped and stirred every two weeks to retain freshness and increase mouthfill, complexity and length.

Pale yellow with straw green hues. Stone fruits and melon aromas combine with walnut and buttery yeast notes followed by subtle vanilla oak. Rich peach and pear fruit characters are balanced with tight acid and generous malolactic fermentation flavours. Sweet oak gives this wine a well integrated, lingering finish.Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.
Alcohol by Volume: 13 %