Felton Road Block 6 Chardonnay is made from a north facing warm site which is biodynamically and organically certified in Bannockburn, Central Otago.

This vineyard produces grapes with a broad fruit expression which makes dry full bodied wines in an extremely commanding style. The wine spends 16 months in barrel and gains massive textural qualities from this long aging time, pre bottling.

It's a great white from the world's southernmost wine region. Drinks well now and can age.

Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter and owner Nigel Greening (who bought the winery in 2000) are a formidable team producing elegant, powerful southern Pinots from their estate vineyards, all now organically and biodynamically certified. 

2022 FIELD OF FIRE CHARDONNAY

Season summary
Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm.

Tasting note
Green lemon hue. Complex nose of minerals, flint, lemons and limes. Taught yet rich and concentrated, flavours reminiscent of lime and samphire. Fine and compact phenolics frame the wine and drive the long, moreish, mineral finish.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. This unique, south-east facing site has varied soils, graduating from top to bottom on the slope, through primarily shallow (10-15cm) glauconitic clays over well drained limestone. Harvest date: 29 April 2022.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 4 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged
French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for
5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in
September 2023.

Chemical Analysis
pH:3.3
Alcohol: 13%
TA: 7.0g/L SO2: 50ppm
Other additives: None
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes

2022 LION'S TOOTH CHARDONNAY

Season summary 

Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm.

Tasting note
Pale lemon straw hue. Mineral complex nose of mandarin, cashew nuts, and crushed limestone. Great depth. Taught, focused flavours envelop the palate. Lemon curd, mandarin peel, nutty flavours unfold. Great length and drive with saline acidity.

Viticulture
Planted from 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. Steeply inclined, east facing home block. Beautiful soils, with nut and crumb structure and great mineral fertility: 30% clay, 15% active lime. Harvest date: 28 April 2022.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 2 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for 5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in September 2023.

Chemical Analysis
Alcohol: 1 3 % pH: 3.29
TA: 6.8g/L SO2: 50ppm
Other additives: None
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes
409 cases of 6 x 750ml bottles produced.

Our Iris Chardonnay comes from the gracious slopes of our Čuvar Terraces Vineyard in Bayview. First planted by George Fistonich in 1986 (he was yet to become Sir), this vineyard has one of the best views in the bay - looking out to the Pacific Ocean. This environment shapes the sunshine of this wine.

The forthright bouquet introduces bursts of candied tropical fruits intertwined with notes reminiscent of warm fruit crumble. Gentle oak wraps around the palate of balanced acid and ripe fruit. Nothing is too dominant — the fruit, oak, acid and flavours all sing in harmony

90-93 points Jasper Morris
Outer quote mark Mid lemon yellow. Here the fruit is already a little more prominent, with apples on the palate and a little cooked lemon. The stones are properly apparent, in this middleweight Montmains with a fine dry finish. Drink from 2025-2030. Inner quote mark (9/2023)

92 points Decanter
Outer quote mark A Montmains which is very smooth and elegant, and drinking beautifully already. A pristine example, this classy wine will undoubtedly age very well but it is hard not to enjoy now. Guillaume Michel describes his plot as being 'in the heart of Montmains Montmains'. The soil here is characterised by cool, fresh, brown clay.(AH) Inner quote mark (9/2023)

89-91 points Burghound
Outer quote mark This is aromatically similar to the straight Chablis with the addition of pretty floral top notes. The finer, and not quite as fleshy, medium-bodied flavors exude more evident minerality on the nicely energetic flavors that deliver fine length on the balanced finale. This could however use better depth so a few years of cellaring should be beneficial. Inner quote mark (9/2023)

Vinous
Outer quote mark The 2022 Chablis Montmains 1er Cru comes from two adjacent parcels at the valley's entrance. Its fragrant nose has discrete touches of orange blossom and light apricot scents, clean and precise. The palate possesses ample weight on the entry and is well-balanced, with a twist of citrus peel leading to quite a compact, slightly bitter finish that needs a little more flesh to come through. This is surprisingly lean and taut for a 2022. (NM) Inner quote mark (9/2023)

Commercial description

Shannon Ridge High Elevation is a true celebration of our sustainably-farmed, mountain-grown fruit. Crafted in a robust, food-friendly style, these wines bring together three very special appellations within Lake County: High Valley, Red Hills and Big Valley. Here, the grapes develop the ripe, full flavours, complexity and structure that make these wines perfect for gathering together your favourite people around the table. Enjoy the rich taste of the high life.

High Valley fruit adds lively citrus flavours and bright acidity, grapes from Red Hills contribute generous, ripe fruit character balanced by the grassiness and mineral tones of fruit from Big Valley

A single vineyard barrel aged Chardonnay from the alluvial soils of Hawke’s Bay.

Hand selected fruit with 12 months maturation in new and one year old French oak, the wine is beautifully textured, full bodied with butterscotch and spicy oak flavours.

Displaying mineral tones from the terroir, this wine has a delightful and very long finish.

Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay is made from a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and originally produces grapes that formed a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. The Hunting Hill Vineyard overlooks Mate's Vineyard in Kumeu and replanted in 2000, since then producing such outstanding grapes that the winemaking Brajkovich family decided to produce a single vineyard wine from here.

Hunting Hill has elevated acidity which lends this wine both a delicious vibrancy in its youth as well as great aging potential and longevity. It is fresh, piercingly zesty and full bodied with dry, savoury flavours and a long, tangy finish.

One of New Zealand's greatest Chardonnays both for drinking now and for cellaring for the long term.

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers.

Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the Rays Road name for our Kumeu River label.  This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.

100% Chardonnay from Vinho Regional Lisboa.

The vines are planted at a density of 4.200 Plants/ha on clay and limestone soils. The fruit is destemmed and then pressed and fremented at tempreatures around 18 degrees celcius.

With the ideal soil and climate conditions, the result is a top quality, aromatic, concentrated wine. Great diurnal variation results in ripe fruits but supporting acidity.

Bright and pure aromas of melon, stone fruit and citrus, interwoven with soft butter, toasty oak and cashew. Full bodied, with an elegant mouthfeel elevated by a soft buttery flow and a textural phenolic line. The fruit has concentration and intensity, compliment the toasty oak details with a long finish. Drink now until ~2028.

Light oak aging and fresh, balanced acidity make this chardonnay a must- have. The bouquet is soft with ripe honeydew, rich vanilla and hints of apple skin. The oak aging adds a nice complexity to the mouthfeel, layering zesty spice tones on top of crisp pear and guava flavour. On the back end, flavours of lemon peel meld with the creamy vanilla notes to create a refreshing and savoury finish.

Classy unoaked Chardonnay from the Coteaux Lyonnais just north of the Rhone Valley and made by a well respected Rhone producer in the shape of Clusel Roch.

A bright fresh and energetic wine with citrus, white stone fruit and floral notes.

A cheeky little Chardonnay from Burgundy with a little bit more oomph and oak. Great value drinking.