Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Best in Show & 97/100 Decanter World Wine Awards, June 2022
"With two wines in this year's Best In Show selection, Hawkes's Bay has excelled — and our judges, too, were particularly happy that the North Island winegrowers’ slow, painstaking work teasing Chardonnay levels ever higher are patently paying off. This outstanding wine has a bright gold colour with faint lime glints. Freshness and richness are beautifully paired in the aromas — to an extent which is perhaps only possible south of the equator in New Zealand. That gives this wine a memorable classicism, Burgundy-lovers might note. In the mouth, it is concentrated and confident, once again striding down that line between the fresh and the rich to vivacious effect. No hurry to drink: a year or two's cellar softening will bring great benefits here."
"A rich, opulent style, with notes of oatmeal, vanilla, baked apple, cream, sweet spices and lemon curd. Well integrated and balanced, with lovely fruit, fresh acidity, excellent structure, nice savoury notes and a very long finish." 96/100 IWSC 2019
"Church Road Grand Reserve wines are produced only in exceptional vintages. The very best low-cropping vineyard blocks are targeted for selective hand-harvesting to yield wines with the greatest possible flavour, depth and concentration. In the winery these wines are made using small batch, traditional winemaking techniques that emphasise texture, structure and subtle complexity, while still letting the fruit shine through.
A fuller bodied Chardonnay balanced by gentle, fresh acidity and a spine of slate like minerality. Fresh zesty citrus and citrus blossom notes are to the fore this year with riper, richer stonefruit underlying and providing extra depth. The fruit is overlaid with complexities of roasted nuts, toasted brioche, and a wisp of struck flint and gun smoke. Already drinking exceptionally well, with careful cellaring we expect this wine to continue to mature gracefully for 5 years or more from vintage date." Winery notes
- Store:
- Wine Freedom
- Price:
- $34.99