- WINERY Martinborough Vineyard
- GRAPE Chardonnay
- YEAR 2006
- COUNTRY New Zealand
- REGION Martinborough
From the warmest, driest spot on New Zealand’s chilly North Island, this nectarine-driven white is unusually rich.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Martinborough Vineyards was one of the first wineries in New Zealand’s Wairapa district, which still makes it only about 30 years old. Grapes for this creamy Chardonnay come from vines planted on an ancient river terrace, whose cobble-studded soils retain heat and aid ripening. Winemaker Paul Mason balanced the fruit’s lush flavors by aging the wine on its lees (spent yeast) to add nuttiness and a satiny texture, and in French oak barrels, which lends the wine spicy vanilla notes.
SMELL IT
Creamy lemon curd and nectarine scents get a lift from sweet vanilla and toasty oak.
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TASTE IT
Fresh acidity and minerality brighten rich orange and stone fruit flavors.
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