2008 Woodthorpe Estate Chardonnay

The 2008 Woodthorpe Chardonnay was two-thirds tank fermented and then matured on the lees for 6 months. It has a well-defined nose with touches of chalk dust, lemon curd, green lemon and a scintilla of vanillary new oak (it sees just 10% in total.) The palate is soft and seductive on the entry, slightly lower in acidity and is very approachable. This is a Chardonnay surfeit with commercial appeal. Drink 2010-2015. John Buck OBE and his son Nicholas continue their hone their craft at one of New Zealand’s most respected wineries and winemaker Peter Cowley has fashioned a clutch of stunning wines in both 2008 and 2009. Both tank samples of their flagship Coleraine and Awatea 2009 are bona fide classics in the making, whilst their entry Woodthorpe range of wines offer a costcutting introduction to the delights of Hawkes Bay varietals without cutting quality.