Chardonnay 2022

Riverby Estate’s Chardonnay block was planted in 1989, making it one of the oldest Chardonnay blocks in Marlborough, and one of the few still on its own roots. It is also one of the few exclusively planted with the Mendoza clone of Chardonnay: Mendoza having long been recognised as the premium New Zealand chardonnay clone.

2022 was an interesting Marlborough vintage with better yields than the previous vintage and generally good weather throughout the season, although things did cool down for the two weeks prior to harvest. Fortunately, the grapes were already sufficiently ripe and had attained an impressive flavour profile before the late season slow down. The grapes were harvested in good condition on 27 March 2022.

After careful handling the wine was 100% fermented and aged in French oak. It spent just over 8 months in oak, 25% new, and underwent lees stirring to produce our desired mealy characters. The wine underwent a full malolactic fermentation. It was bottled on 20 December 2022.

Enticing deep straw, mid yellow in colour, this Chardonnay has a bold, spicy, fresh nose displaying citrus, hazelnuts and ripe stone-fruits, notably peaches and nectarines. There is an under-lying vanilla, baguetty character. On the palate it has a mouth-coating richness and bright acidity with ripe stone-fruit, lemon, grapefruit and tangerine citrus characters. It is a textural, complex, full-bodied wine with rich, creamy, mealy characters, perfectly poised with youthful grip and lingering embracing characters. This is a delicious, classical Chardonnay that promises to unfold further delights as it ages gracefully for many years to come.

Technical Notes

Alcohol: 13.2%    Acidity: 6.2    PH: 3.55    Residual Sugar: 0.1 g

Reviews

It's gently fragrant on the nose, showing nectarine, lemon peel, oatmeal and roasted almond notes, leading to a finely textured palate that's juicy and creamy. Well balanced and harmonious with a lingering elegant finish. At its best: now to 2027. 91/100

Sam Kim Wine Orbit Nov 2023

Exclusively planted with the Mendoza Clone.  What a delight this is aromatically, creamy and almondy, with a ripe and rounded but zippy stone fruit and lime character. Gorgeous texture, something like passion fruit adds extra succulence, but what a lovely texture and satisfyingly rounded mouthfeel. The acid is perfectly ripe and perfectly balanced. Reminds me of Pouilly Fuisse perhaps - but a very, very good one.

92/100

                                                                             Tom Cannavan. Wine-pages.com. March 2024

Begins with fresh stonefruit notes & spice, shifting to tropical, white flowers and a hint of butterscotch/oak. Delightful richness on entry yet with poise and balance, again the tropical fruits, oatmeal, wisps of oak seasoning with fresh, citrusy acidity bring this to a vibrant close. The texture more creamy as it opens, already drinkability but potential too.

Excellent to Outstanding

                                                                                       Mark Henderson. ODT. February 2024