September Helan Estate Chardonnay 2024

September Helan is a boutique winery nestled in the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains, in Ningxia, China. The region is cold, with harsh winters and sunny summers.

Grape growing is possible here because of the barrier formed by the towering Helan Mountains, which protects the eastern slopes from rain and weather. Due to the arid conditions, vineyards often need to be irrigated using snowmelt from the mountains or water from the Yellow River. 

At September Helan, Winemaker Yu Jie (Gigi) Gao makes lean, mineral expressions of Chardonnay, and elegent takes on the red Bordeaux Blends that are typical of the region.

This Chardonnay was pressed and fermented at 16°C over 7 days. Half of the wine was transferred to new 225L French oak barrels for 6 months to undergo malolactic fermentation, while the other half was rested in neutral oak. The 2024 vintage is creamy and leesy, showing notes of popcorn and brioche, with pure fruit flavours of golden apple and white nectarine.