The team at Castelli can call on precious yields of the most exceptional Chardonnay, the goal being to construct a new world wine that's very much in the style of Grand Cru Chablis. Essential to the task is a judicious component of early picked fruit, wild yeasts, battonage and fermentation on full solids in a high proportion of new French oak. A big boned Chardonnay of creamy acidity and the most stately structure, its myriad of undulating flavours and profound complexity intertwine and evolve around the solid core of exuberant, savoury fruit.
Two elite vineyards at Denmark provide the quality of Chardonnay requisite for the Il Liris style, superior sites which can deliver the intense oyster mineral character that's so necessary. A canon of select clones including the eminent Mendoza, are closely husbanded to manage leaf cover and crop load, airflow and light penetration without exposure. Grapes are all hand picked at different levels of ripeness over three separate pickings, chilled to 5C and whole bunch pressed directly to a balance of low toast, seasoned and new tight grain French oak barriques for vinification and regular lees stirring for mouthfeel and structure. Bottled late November as oak and fruit come into perfect balance.
