Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay 2018

2018 LEEUWIN ESTATE PRELUDE VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY WINEMAKER: Tim LovettREGION: Margaret River, Western AustraliaVARIETALS: ChardonnayMATURATION: 10 months in 100% French oak barriques (40% new)ANALYSIS:  13.5% alc/vol  |  7.51 g/L TA  |  3.24 pH  VINTAGE: After a typically wet winter, flowering in all varieties was approximately ten days earlier than in vintage 2017. Spring was met by generally mild conditions, with the usual showery and sunny periods resulting in excellent set across most varieties. Summer was warm with very few hot days, and veraison occurred two weeks earlier than in 2017. 2018 was a spectacular year for flowering of the local Marri trees, which kept birds distracted from the ripening vineyards. Harvest commenced in the Riesling in the middle of February, followed by Chardonnay a week later. WINEMAKING: Cool crushed fruit with some skin contact. The juice was settled for three days, racked and inoculated with yeast. 100% of the juice was barrel fermented in French ba