Kidnapper Cliffs Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
The Kidnapper Cliffs Chardonnay shows a nose of vanilla spice, Christmas lilies and grapefruit all
under-pinned with subtle oak. The palate is well structured and firm but
this does not detract from the rich, sweet fruit. Flavours of lemon
honey, and an undercurrent of toasted spice bread combine with a
structural minerality.
This wine will develop further in the bottle through to 2013 and reward further cellaring.
2009 Vintage
- 5 STARS, 93/100 "Concentrated chardonnay with tree fruit, citrus, bready yeast lees, hazelnut and gunflint flavours underpinned by classy oak. Big and complex, with a long and multilayered finish. Firm fruit and oak tannins combine with acidity to add structure. " Gourmet Traveller Wine – Feb/March 2011
- 5 STARS "From Te Awa, the debut 2009 vintage was estate-grown in the Gimblett Gravels, fermented with cultured yeasts and matured in French oak casks of varying sizes (225 to 500 litres, 15 to 20 per cent new). It‟s a classy, immaculate wine, weighty and rich, with ripe grapefruit-like flavours and finely integrated biscuit oak. Built for cellaring, it is very refined, with fresh, vibrant fruit flavours shining through and lovely depth, texture and length." Michael Cooper‟s Buyer‟s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011