Dry River Chardonnay Martinborough 2022
The 2022 Chardonnay embarked on a 12-month transformation in French oak, driven by wild vineyard yeast for ethanol fermentation and wild bacteria for malolactic conversion. This time in barrel has resulted in a structural wine, with a fine balance of acidity and oak. The aromatics are a complex bouquet of toasted seeds, citrus leaves, biscotti, warm ginger, jasmine, and a hint of vanillin. The palate reveals vibrant acidity and citrus notes when consumed lightly chilled, transitioning to richness and plushness as the wine evolves and comes up to temperature in the glass.
The 2022 Chardonnay embarked on a 12-month transformation in French oak, driven by wild vineyard yeast for ethanol fermentation and wild bacteria for malolactic conversion. This time in barrel has resulted in a structural wine, with a fine balance of acidity and oak. The aromatics are a complex bouquet of toasted seeds, citrus leaves, biscotti, warm ginger, jasmine, and a hint of vanillin. The palate reveals vibrant acidity and citrus notes when consumed lightly chilled, transitioning to richness and plushness as the wine evolves and comes up to temperature in the glass.
The 2022 Chardonnay embarked on a 12-month transformation in French oak, driven by wild vineyard yeast for ethanol fermentation and wild bacteria for malolactic conversion. This time in barrel has resulted in a structural wine, with a fine balance of acidity and oak. The aromatics are a complex bouquet of toasted seeds, citrus leaves, biscotti, warm ginger, jasmine, and a hint of vanillin. The palate reveals vibrant acidity and citrus notes when consumed lightly chilled, transitioning to richness and plushness as the wine evolves and comes up to temperature in the glass.
The name Dry River carries an historical significance as the name of one of the earliest Wairarapa sheep stations (ca. 1877). This was later sold off by the Seddon government and renamed Dyerville, leaving the renamed Waihora River (circa 1900) and the renamed Dyerville Rd (1994) - both after Dry River - as the only reminders of this part of our pastoral farming history. In 1979 Neil and Dawn McCallum planted a vineyard a few kilometres from Dyerville in a very dry, gravely and free-draining area now called the 'Martinborough Terrace' and they took the name Dry River for the vineyard and wines in what was to become another chapter of Martinborough's farming history. Their dream was to produce individual, high quality regional wines which faithfully reflect the 'terroir', vintage and are suitable for cellaring.
