From Te Awa (owned by Villa Maria), the classy 2014 vintage (5*) was estate-grown, mostly in the Bridge Pa Triangle, hand-picked, fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak hogsheads (40 per cent new), and barrel-aged for 10 months. Bright light lemon/green, it has a fragrant, complex bouquet, with a distinct whiff of ‘struck match’. Still fresh and youthful in 2017, it is mouthfilling, with concentrated peach and grapefruit flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, and very impressive vibrancy, poise and length. An elegant, tightly structured wine, it’s still unfolding; best drinking 2019+.
Details
Type: White Wines
Variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2017
Overall Rating for All Vintages Tasted: ★★★★★ – 5 Stars
Price: $55 NZD
Sweetness: DRY
Value for Money: AV
Buyer’s Guide Edition: 2018
When to drink: 2019