2016 McGuigan Personal Reserve Hunter Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

2016 was a very dry and exceptionally hot growing season, culminating in yields being down. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Hunter Ridge Vineyard. The Chardonnay vines grown at Hunter Ridge are from the original vines brought into Australia from Burgundy by John Macarthur in 1817 and established at Mudgee. The climate is hot with high evaporation rates and generally low rainfall, making irrigation essential. The climate is also continental, resulting in long sunny days and noticeably cooler nights. Modern viticultural and winemaking techniques mean that the climate can be seen as one of the region's strengths. 2016 vintage saw a low crop load as the fruit ripened rapidly, so it was harvested mid-January.

The Hunter Valley Chardonnay fruit was harvested using the latest model selective harvester to harvest pristine fruit in the cooler hours of the early morning. The grapes were pressed out immediately on arrival at the winery. The juice went straight on to new French oak barrels and was warm fermented with selected yeast. The wine was kept on lees and stirred weekly for 4 months prior to blending, fining and bottling.