Cousiño-Macul Classic Chardonnay

Chardonnay bottle image

Wine Description

The 2009 season presented prime conditions for the maturation of white grapes. A cold winter with normal rainfall and a warm and dry summer resulted in white wines of excellent quality, with attractive aromas and vibrant acidity. The grapes were picked at the beginning of March and were hand selected before being crushed. The must was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 55°F for a period of 30 days. To add complexity, two different varieties of yeast were used that work slowly in cool conditions to bring out different fruit characteristics. In order to retain the fresh fruit flavors, the wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation.

Cousiño-Macul Winery
Cousiño-Macul Vineyard
The gate to Cousiño-Macul winery
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Acclaim
The 2010 Chardonnay is an unoaked cuvee displaying an attractive nose of pear, apple, and floral notes. Lively and fresh on the palate, this tasty effort is a very good value meant for drinking over the next 1-2 years.
— Wine Advocate, Feb 2012
Pale gold. Subdued aromas of melon, nectarine and lemon rind, but with a deeper suggestion of sweet butter. Round and supple on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering light-bodied citrus and melon flavors and a subtle beeswax nuance. Lingers with slight warmth and repeats the citrus note.
— International Wine Cellar, May 2011
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Buin and Macul Vineyards
Vineyard size
Various acres
Soil composition
Calcareous soil, sand and rough stone
Elevation:
1,320-1,890 feet
Vines/acre:
2,000 in Buin and 920 in Macul
Yield/acre:
2.6 tons
Exposure:
North and South
Year vineyard planted:
Various
Harvest time:
Early March
First vintage of this wine:
2002
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
30 days
Fermentation temperature:
55 °F
Malolactic fermentation:
No
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Size of aging container:
41,000 L
Length of aging before bottling:
4 months
Length of bottle aging:
1 month
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.33
Acidity:
4.79 g/L
Alcohol:
13.8 %
Residual sugar:
1.07 g/L