back
Italian Chardonnay
Producer
Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 when Liberty Wines set out to produce a range of modern, fruit driven wines from the hills outside Verona...
Working with leading New Zealand winemaker, Matt Thomson, our aim was to work with growers (rather than buy bulk wine, which is standard among most wines from Verona at this price) to obtain ripe grapes (by reducing yields and picking later) and then, using Matt’s expertise, preserve these flavours in the finished wines. The result is a realisation of the potential inherent in Veronese viniculture.
Vineyards
The vineyards are situated in the hills outside Verona. We selected several vineyards, some at high altitude, in excellent sites where the growers had reduced the crop quite significantly.
Vintage Information
The Veneto winter was characterised by cold, wet weather which gave way to a cool, rainy spring. Conditions improved in late May with a hot, dry June with good diurnal temperature differences. Harvest was approximately a week later than 2009 and the grapes were picked in good condition with good acidity levels, better pH than 2009 and lovely aromatic qualities.
Vinification
The grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed, crushed and chilled on the way to the press with no sulphur addition. The juice was naturally settled, racked and cultured yeasts were added to initiate fermentation which took place at 12-14°C. Half the wine was fermented in oak, while one third of the blend was put through malolactic fermentation in order to add complexity. Further complexity was derived from ageing on lees for six months.
Tasting Notes
Bright, straw yellow colour with a fresh, youthful bouquet with a mineral note adding complexity. On the palate it is well-balanced and clean, with a nice weight of ripe fruit and a crisp finish.
| Vintage |
2010 |
| Grape varieties |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region |
Valpolicella, Veneto |
| Winemaker |
Matt Thompson |
| Closure |
Stelvin |
| Alcohol (ABV) |
13%% |
