Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY95
Learn More About This Wine
Selected from a registered single vineyard site in the Lake District, Elgin from Bokkeveld Shale, 100% Chardonnay made from Dijon clone CY95.
The inspiration for these 3 Deconstructed Chardonnays stems from a belief that the Elgin region boasts credentials that make it world-class. To bolster these regional credentials, Kershaw has set out to prove that Elgin has both signature grapes, as well as specific ‘terroirs’ (meso-climates) that reflect intra-regional distinctions. To fully comprehend this, it is necessary to dig deeper into the DNA that makes up the region. To elucidate this, Kershaw has made three Chardonnay wines that have each been selected from a specific vineyard and an individual clone. Importantly, this is an ongoing story that will unfold over time.
Grapes were hand-picked on an early autumnal morning, placed into small lug baskets and tipped directly into a press before being gently whole-bunch pressed. The juice gravity-flowed directly to the barrel (no pumps were used at all) without settling. The unclarified juice had no enzymes or yeast added to it and therefore underwent spontaneous fermentation until dry, with malolactic discouraged. The wine rested in barrel for 4 months prior to judicious sulphuring and a further 7 months’ maturation in barrel before racking and bottling.
A small number of artisanal coopers were selected, all from Burgundy and only French oak was chosen. Importantly, this wine was micro vinified as a separate batch. In 2018, 49% was new oak; 100% using 228 litre barrels.
Sourced from a parcel in the western part of Elgin the CY95 clone is known for its excellent quality creating wines that are aromatic, fuller bodied and rich yet tightly structured, well–balanced with length of flavour, managing to show restraint and mouth-watering passivity with a great line through the palate and fruit veering towards white peach flesh and nectarine. The Bokkeveld Shale brings amplified perfume on the nose and persistence and elegance to the palate.
“Instantly impressive, the 2018 Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY95 Deconstructed Chardonnay rockets from the glass with finesse and precision, sashaying with seductive aromas of lemon pastry cream, popcorn kernel, lemon panna cotta and vanilla crème brûlée. Medium-bodied and clocking in at 13.5% alcohol, the palate is compact, layered and devastatingly gorgeous. Seductive oak tones ricochet off the palate with succulent sweet citrus flavors before yellow apple and underripe pineapple sway in unison. The Chardonnay continues to unpack and unfold its layers, giving up more of its secrets and has me just smelling the glass in awe. The wine glides to a fantastic, somersaulting finish that would please even the most devout Burgundy lover.”
-Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate
