| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | New Zealand > Auckland |
| Colour | White |
| Type | Still |
Lots of minerality with crushed stone, chalk, white grapefruit, peach stones, white apricots, wild herbs and lavender. Touch of cedar. Evolves to nutmeg and crushed almonds. Wow. It really builds on the palate, leading to a crescendo and intensity that blows your mind. Compact and phenolic, yet so agile and refined. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Flowering took place well ahead of normal. The maximum temperature all summer was 29.2 degrees on the 9th of December which meant that 2021 was a long, cool, dry and sunny vintage which allowed for slow grape maturation, and the development of excellent fruit aromas and flavours. Harvest was completed on March 9th - about 3 weeks ahead of usual. Mate's Vineyard was planted in 1990 so these vines are now over 30 years old and low-yielding . Maturation was all in oak barrels with 30% new oak from mainly Seguin Moreau. Pale lemon colour. Fleshy stone fruits are immediate and enticing on the nose here. Peaches and cream meet brighter yuzu fruit, savoury wood smoke and a hint of reduction on this already complex nose. The palate follows, with glossy, ripe stone fruit lifted by waves of citrus. The creamy, generous depth is perfectly matched by fresh but balanced acidity. There is a tangible grip to this wine, adding further depth, textural intrigue and ageing potential. Succulent yet refined, the palate continues to flesh out and gain in intensity on the finish, revealing nutmeg, struck flint, white peach and passion flower, all the time remaining fresh and focused. Outstanding.
Clay and all Mendoza clone (small berries; ‘hen and chicken’ uneven fruit set). 30-year-old vines. 30% new oak from Seguin Moreau. Same vinification as the other single-vineyard Chardonnays. 1,500 cases.
Savoury nose suggests a firm backbone. Really concentrated and richer than the Hunting Hill. Long and very youthful. For the moment, it’s a coiled spring with lots to chew on on the finish. Ideally it should be drunk at 9–10 years old but I suspect most of it is hoovered up long before that.
2028 - 2038
17++
