Toasted Head Chardonnay (75cl, 14%)

Toasted Head Chardonnay is an oaked Chardonnay from Dunnigan Hills, California, made from 100% Chardonnay by Toasted Head Winery. Roughly 71% of the fruit is estate-grown in Dunnigan Hills, with supplemental grapes from Mendocino County. The winery's defining technique is toasting the heads and staves of the aging barrels to intensify caramelised oak tones. Grapes are night-picked, then gently de-stemmed and pressed before barrel fermentation and aging. The nose opens with baked apple and white nectarine, then butterscotch, brown sugar, toasted marshmallow, clove and toasted oak. The palate shows vanilla bean cream, peachy caramelised custard, tropical fruit, subtle spiciness, toasted macadamia, cinnamon, orange pekoe tea and maple. The finish is medium in length, warm and slightly toasty, with apple caramel and soft spice.