2019 Tiratore Chardonnay
tiratore Italian (ti-ra-tó-re) hunter/marksman
When planting these vines, old, spent bullets were found in almost every hole dug on the slope of la collina; we imagine this area was used for many years as a firing range for target practice.
Single vineyard Chardonnay from vines originally planted in 2001 on the lower slopes, terraces and flat, old riverbed of la collina vineyard.
The fruit is 100% hand-picked then whole bunch pressed straight to puncheons and barriques, with no cold settling, for fermentation in French oak. Indigenous yeast carried the fermentation to dryness and there were no additives during fermentation. The wine spent 11 months in oak prior to bottling; there was no fining or cold stabilisation. Other than sulphur, there were no further additives.
It has always been our plan to produce a flagship Chardonnay from the la collina vineyard, reflecting the variety and the vineyard site rather than the winemaking.
"All barrel fermented, it features hints of grilled pear and melon on the nose, but the overall oak impact is minimal. Medium to full-bodied, silky and expansive on the palate, long and finely focused on the finish, it's a terrific example of Hawke's Bay Chardonnay. Drink it over the next 5-7 years."
November 28, 2023
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