This ‘Black Label' Heart of Gold wine is an exclusive bottling, set at a tier below that of the usual white label wines, for the FWDC by Steve Voysey of Spade Oak in Gisborne. Chardonnay fruit from the ‘Golden Slope', the ‘Spade Oak' site and from a contract grower, stainless-steel fermented to 12.5% alc, partially by wild yeasts, the wine aged 6 months in seasoned French oak barrels with lees contact and 14% MLF. Bright, deep, light golden-straw colour, pale on edge. The nose is soft, full and broad with ripe, savoury citrus fruit and yellow stonefruits interwoven with nuts and butter, and toast notes unfolding. Medium-full bodied, flavours of ripe, savoury citrus fruit, exotic tropical fruits, nuts and a complex resiny-toasty oak amalgam fill the mouth with good density. A smooth, creamy mouthfeel is a feature of the palate, and crisp acidity provides good, balancing liveliness and energy. The flavours flow seamlessly to a fulsome, dry finish that blossoms with oak toast. This is a full, open, creamy textured and flavoursome Chardonnay with savoury fruit matched by strong toasty oak. Match with roasted poultry and pork dishes over the next 3 years. 17.0+/20 Oct 2012 RRP $14.99