FDW is ‘Yalumba speak’ for Fine Dry White and the 7c for a special batch of Chardonnay. For a number of years Yalumba has been working with a small gathering of quality-focussed, dedicated grape-growers on three special sites in the cool, elevated and renowned Adelaide Hills wine region. Drawing on the qualities this region has with this classic variety, Yalumba has crafted a deluxe Australian Chardonnay, exclusively utilising the traditional Bernard clones 76 and 95. FDW[7c] is the perfect wine to rekindle anyone’s love of Chardonnay.

In line with Yalumba’s no-compromise attitude towards this wine, grapes were hand-picked and then chilled in the cold rooms before tipping to tank press for whole bunch pressing. The juice was sequentially filled to new and 1 year old French oak barriques, with fermentation carried out by indigenous yeasts which are naturally present on the grape berries. On completion of fermentation, barrels were regularly topped and stirred over a nine month period in order to build texture and complexity. Individual barrels were then selected for the final blend and remained in oak for a further six months.

This Chardonnay wine is pale gold in colour with tints of green. The nose displays toasted hazelnut aromas overlaid with lifted nectarine, lemon zest and hints of white nougat. The palate is fine and seamless. Flavours of white peach and lemon sherbet meld with the creamy textured mid palate. An underlying mineral acidity balances these flavours for a tightly structured finish.

#1 in the 2009 Adelaide Review Top 100 Wines: http://www.adelaidereview.com.au/flip_book/hot_100.html