2010 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay

Vasse Felix’s Heytesbury Chardonnay is a barrel selection of the very best Chardonnay parcels from the 2010 vintage. It was fermented entirely with wild yeasts and matured in French oak barriques (71% new, 29% 1-2 year old) with battonage for nine months. Small batches were selected from the finest sections of Vasse Felix’s best vineyards and clones.

A very Burgundian inspired Chardonnay that is slightly lighter in weight and drier than it’s 2009 predecessor.
Each batch was very gently pressed and the juice then transferred to barriques with the inclusion of some solids to achieve more intense ferment characters and palate weight. Each batch was fermented ‘wild’ with no yeast addition and was stirred throughout the nine months of maturation, allowing the yeast lees to impart further complexity, texture and palate weight to the wine. With bright, natural acidity a priority, no malolactic fermentation was encouraged, though a small amount occurred in 2010.

Brilliant pale straw greenish tinged colour with watery hue. The nose displays excellent complexity with lifted scents of cashew and toasty oak intermixed with some delicate white peach and citrus followed by some roasted almond and spice notes. Medium weight the palate delivers mouthfilling flavours of cashew, delicate white peach, some spicy toasted oak and lingering almond like characters. Good restrained power. Clean dry finish with long aftertaste of cashew, delicate white peach, some toasted oak and almond.
Cellar 4-5 years (2016-2017).
Alc 13.0%