Sidewood Cassandra Blanc de Blancs 2018

The Cassandra is classically 100% Dijon clone Chardonnay from the Sidewood Oakbank estate vineyards, at first fermented in French oak hogsheads for under a year before second ferment and 5-6 years maturation in bottle. Vintage conditions can have a surprising impact, sometimes prompting extrovert characters or in this case a quite subtle personality. There’s a lovely, delicate gingery note to the Chardonnay, oak showing a light touch, while a house styled tonic bitterness remains in place as well. The wine is tightly coiled at the moment, poised and inviting, acidity and flavours in balance which bodes well for a more expressive future.