Greywacke Chardonnay 2022

Established in 2009, Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and the name of New Zealand’s most abundant bedrock.

Owner Kevin Judd is one of Marlborough’s pioneer winemakers whose career is intrinsically linked with the global profile of New Zealand wine. He was the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, a pivotal role during which he directed the company’s first 25 vintages.

Based in the Omaka Valley, Greywacke sources fruit from mature low-yielding vineyards in prime viticultural positions, which are sustainably managed, with substantial and increasing proportions coming from organically farmed sites.
Minimal intervention winemaking is adopted to create wines with personality and individuality, aiming for subtle, ripe, delicious-drinking styles.

Greywacke’s principal wines are Sauvignon Blanc (which they make in two styles) and Pinot Noir.

The vineyards were hand-picked separately and fruit gently whole-bunch pressed. Some of the fruit was pressed directly to barrel, the balance was lightly settled and then racked to barrel. The juice went through a natural indigenous yeast fermentation in French oak barriques (20% new), with the final phase continuing for many months. The wine received occasional lees stirring and underwent a complete malolactic fermentation. It was transferred out of oak after 11 months and bottled in September 2023.