HALCYON DAYS CEYX CHARDONNAY 2023

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The name Ceyx (KEH-iks) comes from the Halcyon Days myth. King Ceyx of Trachis and Alcyone, daughter of Aoelus, fell in love and boasted that their love was greater than that of Zeus and Hera. As punishment from Zeus, Ceyx was killed at sea and, heartbroken, Alcyone threw herself into the sea. Out of compassion, the gods changed them into “Halcyon Birds” – the kingfisher (Halcyon Sanctis in latin).

Our Ceyx Chardonnay is from an outstanding subregion, vineyard and block for Chardonnay. The grapes are from the certified organic Osawa vineyard, situated in Mangatahi. Soils are loam topsoil over alluvial gravels (redmetals). The block consists entirely of clone 15 Chardonnay and the vines are 17-18 years old.

We keep the winemaking as simple as possible, focusing on the fruit and lees to create this expression of Chardonnay. All grapes were handpicked and then whole-bunch pressed. Natural fermentation and full malolactic fermentation in tank, it was then aged on lees for nine months in tank until bottling, and then aged in bottle until release. Biogro certified Organic."

94/100 Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, June 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"Pretty scents of jasmine, alpine herbs, wet fern, pine needle, lemon balm, green apple. So attractive to sniff on. Saline and gently nutty to taste, more sweet-ish citrus characters in flavours, light green apple notes, grapefruit juice and pith. Tension in refreshment factor but also spreads gently and softly in the palate. A memorable and mesmerising, delicate wine."