Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay 2023

Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2023

Grape: 100% Chardonnay from the Cornish Point & The Elms vineyards, hand picked, wild yeast fermentation in French oak (10% new wood), unfiltered, unfined, 11 months' ageing on full lees in barrel (total 13 months in cask)

Winemaker's Tasting Note:

Pure grapefruit zest, citrus, stonefruit kernel, a hint of roasted nuts, all bound in enlivening acid. The satisfying palate weight carries the acid completely without effort; it just shrugs it off. Very clean, already showing some length, which will no doubt build gracefully. A pleasing absence of oak notes…in fact a pleasing absence of everything but essence of Chardonnay. A definite candidate for benchmark.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Subtle notes of vanilla rice pudding and flint give way to floral and sweet herb aromas. The palate, initially tight and firm, slowly opens up to reprise the bouquet along with layers of white fruit, chalk and fine-boned pithy phenolics which all lie within a sleek, polished structure. Elegant, detailed and compact, with mid-weight flavours tucked neatly into a delicately crisp package. It will develop nicely in the mid to long term." Drink 2025-2036

97/100 points, Stephen Wong MW, THE REAL REVIEW, October 2024

"Light straw with inviting aromas of fleshy, ripe stone fruits, grapefruit and citrus with hints of grilled nuts, soft spice, pressed flowers, rice pudding, nougat, green apple skin and deftly-judged oak. It's a wine of poise and grace on the
palate, textural aspects simpatico with fruit purity and mineral cadence, sliding across the palate in harmony; citrus, stone and brine borne of soil at its core with great length of flavour, detail and clarity as it fades off. I loved this release"

96/100 points, Dave Brookes, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION, February 2025

"Fresh clean and focused, delicate stone fruit and grapefruit, zesty and clean Chablis-like Chardonnay"

Roger Jones, THE BUYER, January 2025

Food Match: Drink this Chardonnay with roasted poultry.