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Grape variety: Kernling (100%) (pictured in background, half-ripe)
Quality status: English Wine - Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) (Ref: STPDO 11478)
Grape source: Oatley Vineyard, Cannington, Somerset. Kernling upper block, vines planted 1986, cane-pruned on 90cm-high wires, vertical-shoot-positioned. and Kernling lower block, also planted 1986, cane-pruned on 150 cm wires, hanging canes.
Awards:
Bronze Medal International Wine Challenge 2018. Citation: "Mineral, salty, peach, celery and rhubarb. Youthful with lovely acidity and long finish.”
Bronze medal WineGB Awards2018.
Growing Season:
Buds were early after a warm winter but a spell of frosty nights in Apr slowed things up to a week behind normal. We had a few frosted shoots in the lower Madeleine block but only a slight loss of yield overall. The Kernling vines were unaffected. Early summer was showery but a hot spell in July finished off the fruit-set nicely. Ripening continued a little late but then a wonderful dry, warm autumn ripened the fruit fast and well and the Madeleine Angevine grapes were harvested in the last week of September, as normal. The fine autumn weather continued and the September warmth brought the Kernling ripening curve up to 2009 and 2010 levels (though the crop was smaller, which also contributed to the quick ripening). We brought the harvest date forward from the originally-forecast 30 Oct to 23rd.
Harvest:
23rd October, with a misty start followed by cool, breezy sun. Grapes in exceptional, clean condition though slightly pale despite high sugars.
Winemaker: Steve Brooksbank, near Shepton Mallet, Som BA4 6SX.
Analysis
•Alcohol 11.23 %
•Total acidity 8.8 g/l
•pH 3.12
•Sugar 1.3 g/l
•Total dry extract 21.1 g/l
•Free sulphur dioxide 27 mg/l
•Total sulphur dioxide 86 mg/l
•Copper 0.10 mg/l
•Iron 0.57 mg/l
•Yeasts, bacteria, moulds: nil
•protein stability: stable
•chill stability: stable
Independent post-bottling analysis 3 Apr 2017
by BRI Corkwise Ltd, Coopers Hill Rd, Nutfield, Surrey RH1 4HY

Leonora's 2016
Kernling grapes in the hopper, 24 Oct 2016


