The Zumma 2010 Chardonnay

The Name

Originally stemmimg from a baby nickname for Garry and Margaret's daughter Zoe, The Zumma name was adopted by the family's 27 acre farm (now vineyard) when purchased in 1981. With such long held sentimentality it was the obvious name choice for the limited bottling of the wine produced from the same property's oldest vines.

Vineyard

Grapes for this wine (as always) were sourced from a small portion of our original 'home' vineyard proudly planted and tended to by the Crittenden family since 1982. Located on the lower, northern foothills of the Mornington Peninsula's Red Hill the site takes good advantage of the well draining loam soils and the cooling effects of Port Phillip bay 5km west. Planted parallel to the Pinot Noir block of the same name, The Zumma Chardonnay was planted in in 1987 to the most prevalent ofclones I10V1. Although perhaps not the most sought after of clones if planting today, the combination of vine age, site and biological viticultural practises allow this small block of vines to yield chardonnay fruit of an extremely high quality.

Winemaking

The fruit was harvested and whole bunch pressed to a mixture of new, one and two year old French oak barriques (6 in total). All barrels were then allowed to commence fermentation spontaneously with wild (indigenous) yeast, with temperature control being exercised during the fermentation process to ensure the retention of clean fruit characters. The wine was stored, subject to a topping regime, in the same barrels for 14 months, where the lees were stirred back into the wine at regular intervals to add to the complexity and richness. Approximately 30% of the wine was allowed to undergo a malolactic conversion. In June 2011 the wine was assembled in tank where it was made cold and protein stable and filtered in readiness for bottling.

Bottling

July 2011. Sealed under screw cap.

Technical information

Alc. Vol. 13.5%

Residual sugar:dry

Ph: 3.43

Total acidity:6.78 gms/litre

Tasting Notes

Inspiration for this wine has been drawn from the great wines of Burgundy, many of which show a level of elegance and restraint that is seldom seen in new world chardonnay. All of our winemaking techniques such as barrel ferment and stirring on lees have been practised for many generations in the old world and aim to produce a richer and more complex wine. The resultant wine has a restrained fragrance of figs and ripe melons combining beautifully with a delicious mouth-filling savouriness and acidity that comes from truly cool climate grapes.5-7 years.If possible decant prior to pouring. Rollo Crittenden