Visiting wineries in Marlborough recently, I was told people often skipped the chardonnay. Chardonnay may be out of fashion, but it can be a delicious wine if well balanced as most of those in this tasting were.
BEST VALUE
Four and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
At four years old this is drinking superbly, the fruit is well integrated with nutty caramel
undertones and toasty oak, and it finishes with an aftertaste that lingers for several minutes.
It shows how well good chardonnay can mature.
Momo Marlborough Chardonnay 2010, $20
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
Lots of tropical fruit with underlying toasty oak, creamy hints of caramel and almonds, a dry
finish and long aftertaste.
Spy Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2010, $23
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
Fragrant, floral and sporting lots of toasty oak well integrated with the generous fruit, this hints of
crisp grapefruit and creamy nuts, and finishes with a lively citric aftertaste.
Mills Reef Hawkes Bay Reserve Chardonnay 2010, $25
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
A complex, textural wine hinting of tropical fruit with creamy nuts and well-balanced spicy oak
and a crisp, long, creamy finish.
Church Road Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2011, $29
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Below average value
Often found on special, this is crisp and dry with hints of vanilla, creamy nuts, stone fruit and
a long dry finish. It will benefit from more bottle age.
Greywacke Marlborough Chardonnay 2009, $38
Four and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
A classy wine with attractive, complex aromas - herbs. peaches, tropical fruit, toasted nuts
and a hint of smoky oak, generous flavours and intensity, well structured, textural and taut with
an aftertaste that lingers for several minutes.
ANOTHER GLASS
• Tohu Marlborough Chardonnay 2011, $21
Three stars (out of five)
Below average value V
An unoaked wine with hints of stonefruit, buttery nuts and a crisp finish.
• Jackson Estate Shelterbelt Marlborough Chardonnay 2010, $22.50
Three stars (out of five)
Below average value
A crisp, dry wine with hints of stonefruit, lemon and figs, an underlying hint of nuts,
caramel and oatmeal and a long, lemony finish.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting
and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
