Chardonnay 2020
The tasting notes
Our Chardonnay vines grow in three blocks on our Defiance vineyard chosen for the quality of soils and underlying gravels. Our Chardonnay clones (809, 1066 and 548) are the three great clones used by the French Grand Crus of Corton-Charlemagne - considered to represent some of the finest white burgundies. These three clones are designed for blending, with 548 and 1066 producing full bodied wines with complex aromas, the addition of 5 - 10% of 809 provides muscat aromas and a fine well balanced structure.
The grapes were hand harvested on the 9th, 11th & 12th April 2020 from our Defiance vineyard and were whole bunch pressed to tank before being transferred to French oak barriques to undergo barrel fermentation. Aged in French oak barriques (23% new oak) for 9 months the wine was regularly lees stirred with 100% completing malolactic fermentation.
Our Chardonnay is dry in style, and pale lemon with clear hues in colour. The nose has fragrant aromas of nectarine, peach, melon, potpourri, sweet spice, brioche and honeysuckle. Rich and mouth filling the succulent palate is dry with ripe sweet peach, biscuit, toffee, char and good minerality. A complex wine with a long sweet stone fruit finish.
"Fantastic on the palate with a dance between flavour and texture, youthful and fresh with barrel spice and a gun-flint then fruit flavour that reflect the bouquet. Fine wood tannins, complex, lengthy and delicious." Cameron Douglas
" Delightfully elegant and complex with apricot, rockmelon, vanilla oak, brioche and lemon peel aromas, it's succulent and flavoursome in the mouth displaying excellent weight and roundness. It's generously textured and lingering with plenty of delectable flavours. At its best: now to 2028.
" This has a gentle and enticing bouquet, nuances of stone fruit, citrus underlying floral melded with subtle creaminess and elegant oak details. Medium bodied, sweet-scented, lively fruit of peach, lemon and grapefruit are well proportioned, adorned by white and yellow blossom; lemon curd, pricey spices and a hint of toasted hazelnut linger to a long harmonious finish." Candice Chow.
"Wisps of struck match, classically Chardonnay nose, nothing stands out as everything is in place. The palate similarly beautifully balanced. Appealing spiced notes, nectarine, nuts, lovely complexity, intensity of flavours with great structure underpinning it. Long, long finish, the flavours hang in the mouth. Powerful yet there's elegance too. Delightful." Mark Henderson
| Variety | 100% Chardonnay |
| Appellation | Central Otago |
| Sub Region | Felton Rd, Bannockburn |
| Vineyard | Defiance |
| Harvest Date | 9th,11th & 12th April |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Residual Sugar | Nil |
| pH | 3.43 |
| TA | 5.66g/l |
Chardonnay vintages
The Awards
Cameron Douglas: The Shout NZ - 96 points
Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine reviews: 97 points
Yvonne Lorkin: 
" Slow down, find a spot, indicate and do your best parallel park because you're going to want to have all your wheels pointing forward to take on this absolute stunner of a chardonnay. Intense grapefruit, roast peach, pineapple and caramelised, toasty oak notes roar out of the glass and combine with rich, ripe topicality on the palate, clean zesty acidity and a long, creamy and almond finish. It has incredible energy and tension and cellaring potential til 2030."
Mark Henderson: Otago Daily Times - Excellent to Outstanding
Sam Kim: Wine Orbit:
Winestate: 
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