02-Feb-2019
Steve Voysey has had a hand in making some of New Zealand’s great Chardonnays from Gisborne over the years. His claim to fame is arguably developing the ‘O’ for ‘Ormond’ wine which ended up being one of Pernod-Ricard’s best wines. Since Steve has left to make his own wines, he has continued to craft superior Chardonnays. I’m sure he would give considerable credit to the other influences, such as site and soil from where the fruit is sourced, indigenous yeasts and barrel-fermentation. Steve isn’t a fan of the reductive ‘gunflinty’ style, and has proven that great Chardonnay can be made in styles without it. Here’ I review the 2018 Spade Oak ‘Voysey’ Chardonnay, made as his most accessible wine, yet showing sophistication, along with the 2017 ‘The Prospect’ Chardonnay, a serious Gisborne bottling which is made in conjunction with Indevin where Steve consults. www.spadeoak.co.nz
