Luta Wines Chardonnay "Echoes" 2023

Rob and Kate Burley have since 2019 been organically farming a picturesque 5.5 Hectare vineyard in Nelson, planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris & Riesling. As the ‘Unkel’, they always allow the wine to do the talking, leading its own life through fermentation and ageing in the winery providing what they believe is the most honest expression of the fruit that they started with.

Luta wines are a recent addition to their Unkel Wines range & are wines made from a selection of barrels that they believe tell the story of the unique Moutere clays & the organic vineyards in which these vines are farmed. These are aged for longer at every step, from barrel to tank and again in the bottle, prior to release.

‘Luta’ - derived from Lutum, the Latin word for clay - pays reference to the Moutere clays where the grapes are grown.

Grape Varietals & Region: 100% Chardonnay from Nelson, New Zealand. Grown on clay soils in the Upper Moutere in Tasman, it comes from the Weka Road vineyard, of mostly gravel & threaded clay

Taste Profile: Lemon balm, orange blossom and a hint of dried apricot lift from the glass, layered with biscuity notes and gentle old oak. The palate is creamy and saline, with citrus and stone fruit weaving through a poised, elegant finish.

Winemaking Process: The fruit for this wine was whole-bunch pressed and settled overnight before being racked to and fermented in old Puncheons. Aged on lees for 10 months, then racked to stainless steel where it was aged for a further 6 months