The Gravel Castle Chardonnay is pale gold in colour with citrus and nashi pear aromas. Refreshing tropical fruit flavours are complimented by a certain savoury nuttiness. The palate is smoothly textured. Burgundian Chardonnay clones 96 and 548 were carefully hand harvested from the Roman Road and Railway Hill vineyards. The grapes were then gently pressed and the juice was cold settled for 24 hours. Once racked, the juice was inoculated with aromatic yeasts. Following the primary fermentation, the wine underwent a partial malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and increase mouthfeel. The wine was aged on fine yeast lees prior to bottling. The Simpsons’ vineyards occupy glorious positions on the sunny, sheltered slopes of the North Downs of Kent, protected from the whimsy of the English climate by ancient woodland and anchored in the iconic chalky soils so highly revered in the world of both still and sparkling wine.