Cuvée Aux Antipodes Blanc 2020

This Chardonnay is a collaboration between Prophet’s Rock winemaker Paul Pujol and esteemed French winemaker François Millet from Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy. Former winemaker at Comte George de Vogüé for 35 vintages, François continues to make wine in Burgundy with his family under ‘François Millet et Fils’ and with us in New Zealand.

The grapes were sourced from the small one hectare Chardonnay block on our Kopuwai Delta vineyard, located in the Pisa sub-region of Central Otago. This site has a mix of glacial and alluvial soil. Meticulous viticulture and the site’s low-elevation help to ensure full ripeness and concentration. Cellaring will reward collectors over the next 10+ years from vintage.

…One of the more profound Chardonnays I’ve tasted from Central Otago.

Joe Czerwinski, 95 points for The Wine Advocate

The Antipodes Chardonnay bursts forth with what I see as the region’s characteristic acid signature – like a high wattage light bulb with a diffusing lens, incredibly bright with softened edges. While the wine is still incredibly young, its fineness is apparent with a lovely sense of transparency and restraint, flavours of both citrus and white stone fruits, with just a hint of biscuit and very lightly framed with spice. There is a pleasing texture and mouthfeel, plenty of mid-palate density without even a hint of heaviness, and a lot of length. This wine of nuance will surely develop further with time in bottle. Allow aeration and time to taste.

Elaine Chukan Brown, JancisRobinson.com

Totally captivating bouquet, exotic spices, elegance and finesse. Both the nose and palate offer a pure fruit attack with white peach and pear then apple and white flowers, very fragrant. A soft salty mineral layer adds texture, depth and complexity – and reflects the wild ferment technique. Satin through silk and fine creamy texture, fine tannins, long finish. Drink now and through 2024. If Chardonnay were shoes – this would be in the Louboutin section!

Cameron Douglas, 98 Points

Winemaker’s Notes

“This wine is the reflect of the Clutha River flowing just below, mineral, transparent and luminous. There is nothing exotic, “artificial” or “made up” about the expression of this wine. That shows again the link between what is emanating from the land, the feeling you have from it and the expression of the wines.” – François Millet.

All elements of the winemaking are directed by François who has formed a consistent approach to this parcel since 2018.

A strong focus on viticulture is the foundation of the winemaking approach. Yields are consistently managed to 25-30hl/ha or approximately 3.5-4ton/ha.

The handpicked fruit is whole-bunch pressed and fermented in barrel using only indigenous ‘wild’ yeast. The wine then spends 17 months in barrel (16% new) and undergoes indigenous malolactic fermentation. The wine is bottled unfiltered under Diam cork.

Decant for full expression in its youth and cellar with confidence for 10+ years from vintage.    

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Details

Type:

White

Varietal:

Chardonnay

Region:

Central Otago

Appellation:

Cromwell/Lowburn/Pisa

Vintage:

2020