Chardonnay and Something Different
Chardonnay may not be the fashion it once was but its quality in New Zealand has certainly not diminished.
This tasting was dominated by 2 companies. Greystone, who are also responsible for Muddy Water, probably made the best wines and Morton Estate's selection were undoubtedly the best value for money.
That said, the best wine was the Lawson's Dry Hills Chardonnay 2009 - just divine.
Please also take special note of the Morton Estate White Label Pinot Noir.
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Aronui Single Vineyard Nelson Chardonnay 2011 $24.95
An elegant wine that exhibits gentle peachy aromas and flavours as well as sweet, ripe fruit and a smooth vanilla element. Well balanced with a lengthy finish. More
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Awaroa Bay Trio Blanc 2012 $15.00
This Nelson wine is made from a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. The result is a powerful wine that has a gooseberry and nettle nose. Grassy and full of passionfruit in the palate with an off dry finish, good mouthfeel and a long persistent finisg. One of the best of its type. More
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Babich Family Estates Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2011 $25
Pronounced vanilla notes on the nose succumb to a smooth palate of stonefruit with a hint of citrus. There is neatly integrated oak and a velvety texture. All in all a well made rounded chardonnay that gives much pleasure. More
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Babich Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2012 $20.00
Good, honest chardonnay that displays clean, peach fruit on the nose. This style is replicated in the palate with stone fruit again to the fore in a balanced mouthful. Finish is clean and crisp. More
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Babich Irongate Chardonnay 2011 $35
This chardonnay always stands the test of time. It is golden in colour with a honeyed apricot nose. It has an oily mouthful that presents the stonefruit flavours well. It has fresh acidity, good length and will continue to age gracefully. More
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Georges Michel Golden Mile Chardonnay 2012 $22.50
Peaches and cream as a description is probably a bit glib but this wine evokes this both on the nose and in the palate. The velvety texture and soft, ripe fruit integrates nicely with the gentle French oak to create a balanced and thoroughly enjoyable wine. More
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Greystone Chardonnay 2011 $32.95
Just great chardonnay. This Waipara wine has a golden hue with a rich butterscotch nose. The palate is full of golden, almost honeyed, stonefruit wrapped in an opulent texture and balanced by crisp acidity. The finish is toasty and very lengthy. Yum! More
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Hunter's Marlborough Chardonnay 2011 $18.90
The complex nose of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla and even lime paves the way to sweet, ripe fruit in the mouth with citrus and honey notes alongside balanced oak and crisp acidity. More
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Hyde de Villaine de la Guerra Chardonnay 2010 $85.00
Hyde de Villaine was established through the meeting of two historic wine families. Aubert & Pamela de Villaine from Burgundy and Larry Hyde from the Napa Valley. The result is a chardonnay that contains honeyed stonefruit with floral notes and a hint of lime. Only available in small quantities. More
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Lawson's Dry Hills Chardonnay 2009
Wow! Lawson's Dry Hills are never in a hurry to release their chardonnay and this hghlights why. It is fresh and vibrant with bright notes on the nose and a palate full of juicy peaches and big, forward oak. Complexity is provided by elements of vanilla and spice. It long and extremely satisfying. More
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Lone Goat Vineyard Canterbury Ehrenfelser 2012 $18-22
Ehrenfelser is a white wine grape variety of German origin. It was created by Dr. Heinrich Birk (1898-1973) at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in 1929, by crossing the varieties Riesling and Silvaner. Certainly we enjoyed it. This wine has floral aromas of roses, blossom and peach. The soft fruit comes through well in the palate and has a hint of spice and a decent off dry finish. More
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Mahana Pinot Gris 2012 $28.00
The pronounced pear drop aromas lead to an opulent palate of pears and blossom with a few yeasty notes. Good texture and long finish make this a quality wine. More
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Mill Road Pinot Gris 2012 $12.95
Simple, easy drinking quaffer that is priced accordingly and thus gives excellent value. Sweet, ripe pears on the nose with soft fruit flavours in the palate and a dryish finish. More
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Morton Three Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 $19.95
This wine is created from Morton Estate three vineyards in the Hawke's Bay and excellent it is too. It has full fruit aromas and flavours with tropical fruit in the ascendancy. It is rich, weighty and has a perfect fruit to oak balance. Great drinking at a super price. More
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Morton White Label Chardonnay 2011 $17.95
More classy chardonnay from Morton Estate. The intense apricot aromas are replaced by a wonderfully creamy and bold palate of citrus and stonefruit. These big flavours are balanced by the acidity and elegant oak. Big mouthful with a gentle finish. More
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Morton White Label Mercure 2011 $17.95
As ever this is excellent value. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec is classic Bordeaux. This vintage the Cabernet Sauvignon seems to be more to the fore giving more blackcurrant . This works admirably with the spice and nutty notes as well as the smooth tannins. More
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Morton White Label Pinot Noir 2010 $18.95
This went down a treat. It displays dark berry fruit on the nose with notes of cinnamon. In the mouth you get abundant and powerful plums, prunes all tied in with spice. It is big and layered with bold oak and a long persistent finish. Buy some! More
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Muddy Water Chardonnay 2011 $32.95
Now under the stewardship of Greystone Wines this is top class chardonnay. It is golden in colour with a toasty nose. The palate is choc full of peach and citrus flavours with an undercurrent of vanilla. The oak is bold and the acidity crisp thereby creating a powerful and very satisfying wine. More
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Nikau Point Reserve Chardonnay 2011 $17.95
An opulent nose of dried apricots, honey and vanilla carries through well to the palate where it is joined by balanced oak, firm acidity and bold alcohol. Big, weighty wine - especially good with food More
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Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2009 $35.95
This big, savoury wine may be a little subdued on the nose but in the palate it abounds with ripe peach and apricot flavours with bold oak and a citrus element. More
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Rene Mure Pinot Gris 2011 $37.95
From a leading Alsace producer, the gentle aromas of cooked apple are soon overtaken by the pear and sweet apple flavours in the palate which are accentuated by a nibble of honeyed sweetness. Long and persistent. More
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Saint Clair Marlborough Premium Chardonnay 2012 $21.50
As ever from Saint Clair, a thoroughly decent wine at a fair price. It is rich and opulent on the nose with decent stonefruit weight in the palate allied to a nudge of vanilla. Clean, persistent finish. More
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Saint Clair Marlborough Premium Gruner Veltliner 2012 $21.50
We have yet to be completely convinced by Gruner Veltliner in New Zealand but the signs are that it is improving as the vines age. The aromas of nuts and gentle oak give way to white peaches and delicate butterscotch. More
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Sileni Cellar Selection Chardonnay 2012 $20
Subtle peach aromas on the nose with a hint of vanilla. Good weight in the palate with stonefruit flavours leading the way followed by delicate oak and oily texture. Good, everyday chardonnay. More
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Sileni Estate Selection 'The Lodge' Chardonnay 2011 $32
The restrained floral nose is easily overtaken by the sweet, ripe stonefruit in the palate. There are hints of citrus and apple as well as a touch of oak. The result is an elegant wine that is refreshing and well balanced. More
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Thistle Ridge Chardonnay 2011 $19.95
Another excellent chardonnay from Waipara. Light gold in colour, it is fresh and fruity with plentiful peaches, a smidge of citrus and green apple and a long buttery finish. Its light on oak but heavy on fruit and texture. Enjoy - its great value. More
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Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay 2012 $21.95
Is unoaked chardonnay fashionable or not? I don't think we know but regardless this is a good wine. It is big and fruity with dried apricot fruit characteristics and good palate weight as well as a lingering nectarine finish. More
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Twilight Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2009 $22.50
Chenin has rather gone out of fashion but it is still a good drink. This example is quite evolved with a light gold colour and smokey, nutty aromas. And yet there are some interesting buttery fruit flavours and a dry balanced finish. More
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Twilight Vineyards Chardonnay 2008 $22.50
Still a good drink, this wine has good aromas of peach and honey with a weight marmalade characteristic in the palate. It full and weighty and will continue to give pleasure for a while yet. More
