With every new vintage we are finding the demand for our wine outstripping supply.
Our 2021 Vintage is currently only available through our club, via the Winemaker's Selection, or Collectors selection mixed pack.
Vintage Conditions
The 2021 season here at Delamere will go down on record as so close to perfection it will be hard to beat. Overall it was Tasmania’s second warmest season on record (an advantage straight out of the blocks in a cold, marginal-climate wine region like Pipers River!). In contrast to record warm temperatures in December and January, February saw a cool change. This allowed fantastic retention of acidity in the fruit. We had below average rainfall throughout the season, which meant disease pressure was non-existent, allowing us to take our time as the fruit ripened, and harvest only as it reached perfection. Crop levels were just below forecast giving us excellent depth of flavour. Coupled with near-perfect balance and racy acidity, a winemaker couldn’t ask for better material. Making wines from this year’s fruit has been an absolute privilege.
Winemaking
Every aspect of making this wine seeks to allow our unique vineyard characteristics to shine through, developing a complexity and texture that truly cool climate chardonnay fruit can carry so well. Carefully hand harvested from Delamere's oldest vines in the cool of the morning, the fruit is whole bunch pressed in our small press to tank, settled and racked with light fluffy solids to oak. Slow fermentation with indigenous yeast in 100% new oak. Wild fermentation continues until dry then MLF allowed to start Stirring of yeast lees allows the development of mouth-feel. Matured in oak for 12 months. Bottled with minimal filtration under cork and wax seal. Allowed to mature in bottle for a further 12 months prior to release to allow the wine to settle.
Tasting Notes
This is a classic cool climate Chardonnay with the finesse, elegance and depth of flavour to age for 10 or more years, thus is the aim of the ‘Block Wine’ project. Beautifully light, yet with the complexity and length that comes from this wine being made from some of our oldest vines.
Food Pairing
Black truffle popcorn, crispy-skin salmon, confit chicken Maryland and char-grilled tiger prawns.