Greystone Chardonnay 2022

Description

Made by award winning organic winery Greystone in North Cantebury in New Zealand’s South Island. Winemaker Dominic Maxwell and viticulturist, Nick Gill are rising stars of the industry and this stunning Waipara Valley estate on the Omihi slopes with its clay-limestone soils and free draining gravels is perfect for grape growing. An exceptional north facing site, limestone hills slope down to clay, the perfect combination for growing wines with minerality and concentration.

Winemaker Dom Maxwell was awarded NZ Winemaker of the Year 2018, Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine and the winery was awarded “Vineyard of the Year” at 2016 NZ Organic Wine award.

About this wine from the winemaker: “Our Chardonnay is a blend of our two oldest blocks. One block is limestone dominant, while the other is clay. Our vines flourish differently across both blocks. Limestone provides elegance and finesse, while our clay blocks provide weight and concentration. Organically managed, under-vine cultivation and fewer irrigation cycles have driven the Chardonnay roots deep into the soil.

“2022 started with a wet spring which reduced yield before a long dry summer settled in, which meant clean fruit and beautiful acidity. The dry autumn meant that fruit ripened evenly, and the flavor concentration was very noticeable. The fruit was harvested in the cool of the early morning to retain freshness and acidity.

We hand-picked our Chardonnay blocks and processed them without the use of additives. Each block was fermented separately in French oak barriques without intervention allowing for a natural, primary, and malo-lactic fermentation through to completion. Barrel aged for 10 months before estate bottling without fining.

“Pale lemon in colour with aromas of ripe nectarine and pink grapefruit. Toasted almondsand bran appear with some fine blossom too. Rich mouth-feel with exotic spice and lemonpith, balanced with a lengthy mineral spine.”

★★★★★ Michael Cooper “Light gold, it is fragrant, weighty and rich, with ripe stonefruit flavours, well-integrated oak, lively acidity, and excellent depth, harmony and length. Savoury, vigorous and finely structured.”

Trophy ‘Riedel Wine of the Show’ – NZ Organic Wine Awards
Trophy ‘Champion Chardonnay’ – NZ Organic Wine Awards

95 points, Cam Douglas MW “Fragrant, enticing, complex and new with a freshness and enticement scents with white peach and sweet citrus, some ripe red apple flesh idea and core of lees offering a gun-flint and mineral saline scent. Lovely weight and intensity driven by mouthfeel and core fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet. The lees and mineral qualities layer in complexity and style.”

RRP $58   *Our Special Price $46.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.