Xige Estate N28 Chardonnay
From Ningxia, China
The Chardonnay has a medium to deep lemon appearance. On the nose, there is ripe lemon and peach fruit with new-oak hints of clove, toast and smoke (this wine spent some six months in 100% new French oak barriques). On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied with well-integrated alcohol, some lively acidity—only 30% of the wine went through malolactic—and a ripe core of lemon peel, red apple and peach fruit with those distinct but not overly dominant new-oak notes. With moderate to longer length and some of the richness of this year, this is drinking well now but will develop some modest tertiary complexity over the next 1-2 years.
