This limited volume wine represents a vineyard selection of two of the six vineyard parcels that are planted on deep red clay “Tukulu” loam soils .The two parcels are found on the Estate’s west - facing , 12% slope at 219 meters above sea level. The selected parcels comprise one Burgundian and one Californian clone , both planted in 1997 and both utilising “vertical shoot positioning”.  For cellarmaster Carl Sc hultz   the two specific clones were selected for their consistent quality and flavour profile and one or both of these parcels have consistently given us the Eleanor Chardonnay.

The grapes were hand-picked  from daybreak to mid –morning,ensuring that temperatures stayed below 20 degrees Celcius.   The bunches were de-stemmed and lightly crushed ,leaving 50% whole berries. The grapes were immediately pressed, gravity settled overnight, inoculated with yeast and transferred to barrels for fermentation. Fermentation lasted 2-3 weeks with temperatures in the 18-24 degree Celcius range.The wine was left on the fermentation lees for the full period in wood. Barrels were stirred every two weeks for the first six months and once monthly thereafter.The wine was given a light fining and filtration prior to bottling.