2007 Windowrie Family Reserve Cowra Chardonnay
Chardonnay has been synonymous with Cowra since Brian Croser won acclaim with his Cowra Chardonnay during the 1970s. These early wines showed the potential of this variety within the region and paved the way for future winemakers.
The Windowrie Chardonnay vineyards were planted a number of years later in 1988 (in the same sub-region), and it is from this original estate vineyard that the 2007 Family Reserve Chardonnay was made.
The low yielding Chardonnay fruit (three tonnes to the hectare) was harvested during the cool of the night to retain freshness and then gently crushed. The free run juice was cut at 500 litres per tonne to ensure only the best flavours were captured.
The fresh juice was then inoculated with yeast, and then transferred to a combination of one and two year old French and American oak on the third day of fermentation. The wine was racked and returned to barrel for 12 months maturation to build texture and complexity. Further six months bottle maturation followed prior to release.
“… now I particularly enjoyed this offering, not only for the flavour whack, but also for its crispness which I look for in a Chardonnay…”
‘A Day in the Life of Oz’, John Crook, April 2009