Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 21-Aug-2024
Slightly hazy, pale yellow gold, even colour throughout. This has an alluring bouquet, greeted with a flinty, smoky front overlying stonefruit, citrus, Campari and wildflower. Medium-full bodied, aromas of smoke flint and spice overlying apricot, grapefruit and wildflower, unfolding fennel and Campari linger. A grip of ripe, firm phenolics textures the palate, along with chalky minerals. The wildflower and Campari layer intrigues a creamy flow and carries salinity. A distinctive, textural Chardonnay with its raw beauty. Match with pork belly and swordfish over the next 5+ years. Skin-fermented with 20% whole bunches for 10 days, pressed to barrel, 60% de-stemmed, fermented on skins for 10 months in older puncheon, and 20% whole bunch pressed to stainless steel fermentation. After blending, the wine was left on fine lees in 60% older oak puncheon and 40% stainless steel for 3 months, underwent full MLF, and naturally settled for a further 6 months in stainless steel. Bottled unfined, unfiltered after 18 months, vegan friendly. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Aug 2024 RRP $50
