Description

A single-vineyard Chardonnay from one of Central Otago's most revered estates, sourced from an east-facing, cool-site slope planted in 1992 on schist soils, where big stones store the day's warmth and release it slowly through the cool Bannockburn nights. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented in French oak (just 4% new) and aged 17 months in barrel, the wine is made from biodynamically grown grapes.

A flinty, mineral-edged nose leads with clean white and yellow stone fruit, ripe lemon, poached pear and citrus blossom, lifted by subtle toasted-nut and vanilla-biscuit notes. The palate is expressive yet pure, with a lovely softness and texture from bready, leesy tones, all held in check by crushed-stone minerality and a fleshy, mouth-watering acidity. There is real tension here, tightly wound and structured, finishing long and savoury with layers of almond pastry lingering alongside nectarine and pear.

Generous and open-knit now, but with the structure to reward cellaring; it should drink beautifully over the next eight years or more. A serious, food-friendly white with the purity and definition that have made Felton Road's Chardonnays so sought-after.