Cumulus Chardonnay: Melon and Drupe Salad

Cumulus Wines offers the best vintages crafted by the pioneering winery in the collection bearing the same name. The range features three well-loved varietals that are handcrafted with passion to create super-premium wines symbolizing excellence and consistency.

The name of the winery is derived from the cloud formations prevailing over the Cumulus vineyards. These white and fluffy clouds serve as an inspiration for the winery to always aim for greater heights and aspire for consistent success.

The high-quality fruits are harvested from selected parcels of the Orange Estate. The vines from the Orange Estate have matured through the years of producing quality yields of grapes. They are deeply rooted in rich ancient soils of over 450 million years of age. This layer rests on a bed of volcanic-derived basalt overlaying a limestone base. The ideal terrain set up provides an efficient draining for soils, producing grapes of delightful intensity and integrity.

Cumulus Chardonnay is an exquisite white wine varietal, highly regarded for its complex structure and delightful characters. Premium quality Chardonnay grapes are harvested from the elevated terrain of Orange region with cool temperatures allowing the delicious flavours to concentrate on every fruit. Canopies are also strategically positioned to reduce exposure of light-skinned grapes to the extreme heat of the sun.

Picking of fruits is done three weeks later than average to reduce stinging acids and highlight the innate sweetness of Chardonnay. The grapes are pressed in whole bunches with a larger portion of free-run juice being fermented in a combination of fresh and lightly seasoned French oak barrels. Selected parcels are fermented in larger puncheons together with a formulated mix of wild and cultured yeast species.

The final wine was stirred every 7 days for 12 weeks before allowing the wine to mature with light yeast lees and French oak for 10 months. Cumulus Chardonnay is processed in small batches to ensure the excellent consistency and quality in every bottle.

The wine features a lovely display of medium to dark yellow straw shades with bright hues of green. The bouquet is decorated by succulent melon and juicy figs with subtle hints of hazelnut oak and creamy brioche. The palate is on itself a delicate mosaic of ripe melons and sweet white stone fruit. Light characters of creamy nutty oak and perfectly balanced acidity finish to a crisp and refreshing finale that will surely make you ask for more.

This wine is best served chilled with a variety of dishes such as crispy fish fillet, herbed lemon chicken and creamy pasta. Cumulus Chardonnay can be enjoyed fresh from its release while a cellaring term of five to seven years will reward to more complex Chardonnay characters.

Additional Read

1. Chardonnay Food Pairings - A Beginner's Guide
   
2. What is Chardonnay