Philip Shaw No 11 Chardonnay, Orange, NSW

Description

Philip Shaw acquired the Koomooloo vineyard site in 1988. It is in close proximity to the region’s highest peak, Mt Canobolas (an extinct volcano), Koomooloo vineyard rises to an altitude of 900m with red loam soils over limestone. With less than 1% of Australian vineyards above 600M, Koomooloo is one of the highest vineyards in Australia. Although it’s not unusual to see snowfalls during winter and into spring, the altitude provides cooler conditions throughout the growing season. Koomooloo is a unique hand kept vineyard with a routine of hand pruning, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, crop thinning, and hand picking happening in multiples if needed. Due to the high elevation, the climate of the Orange wine region is one of the coolest in Australia. The rainfall is winter-spring dominant. The three driest months are the ripening period of February, March and April. Orange is also noted for intense sunlight, which, coupled with the cool growing season, result in wines of bright fruit and distinct elegance. “No.11 is my dream Chardonnay plot. It slopes to the south, away from the sun making it one of the coolest sites in the vineyard – ideal for Chardonnay. This section has a high percentage of stone, which moderates fertility and assists drainage.” – Philip Shaw.