Aged 8 months in small French oak casks. Straw yellow color with gold shades. Incredibly complex wine. Borgoñon.The characteristics of the fermentation in cask are mixed with the ones from the nuts, pears and some tropicals too. Mineral with some fruit of the Passion still remaining , also pear and plum The palate is narrow and fine with a great balance and structure. It will last for a long time and its best moment will be from the 2008.
Pairing: Fish Stew, Omelets, Pasta, Soups and Creams.
Lake's Folly was the first new vineyard in the Hunter Valley last century, established by Max Lake and his family in 1963. The tradition continues, with the first boutique winery in Australia making only two wines, a red (Cabernet blend) and a white (100% Chardonnay), using all estate grown... fruit.
The property changed hands in May 2000 to Peter Fogarty. Peter was the chosen buyer because of his wish to maintain the integrity and current direction of the Folly. Nine years on, nothing has changed nor is likely to. There are no plans for expansion, small is beautiful.
With a total production of around 4,500 cases, less then a quarter is Chardonnay. We practice the Kiss philosophy around here, 1 red and 1 white, same vintage, same price, (life is complicated enough as it is!). The most important aspect is great fruit and attention to detail from vineyard to bottle.
In the vineyard, quality is derived primarily from the terroir. The old vines, now well and truly self regulated to produce low cropping high quality fruit, are well established and give consistency even in difficult years.
The winemaking aspect is very simple. Hand picking, gentle crushing and traditional open fermentation for the reds, barrel fermentation and extended yeast lees contact for the Chardonnay. Judicious use of French oak, small barrel maturation for both, hand bottling and that's it, no more, no less.
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