Chardonnay from
New Zealand – Canterbury & Waipara
18.5/20Made from hand-harvested fruit from 15 y.o. Mendoza clone, whole bunch pressed, wild yeast fermented to 14.0% alc. and matured 11 months in 36% new oak, undergoing full malolactic conversion. Bright light golden-straw-yellow in colour, this has a full, rich bouquet of citrusy, mealy fruit and superb complex barrel-ferment nutty notes, showing with real depth and density. Medium-full bodied, this is a wine with power, richness and depth of mealy, citrus fruit and nutty flavours with layers of complex savoury lees, yellow stonefruits, toast, smoke and nuances of butter that unfold in the glass. The creamy textures are moderated by bracing acidity at present, and this freshness will assist in the development of the wine over the next 5-6 years. Serve with pork and duck dishes. 18.5/20 Apr 2011 RRP $32.95