Neudorf Nelson Chardonnay 2008 is a sleek, sexy and sophisticated wine with mineral, oak and delicate toasted-nut flavours beautifully interwoven and delivered with a taut yet silken texture. Serve it with oysters and the earth may move a little. It makes the best examples look a little… pretty pedestrian.” Bob Campbell MW, North & South Dec 2009
A recent flying visit to France found us drinking Chablis most nights. Chablis offers that refreshing, cleansing quality which begs another sip on a mid summer evening. It was a delight to return home to write tasting notes for this Neudorf wine with its similar linear elegance.
Pale daffodil green yellow in the glass. Vibrant ripe fruit notes on the nose leading into a palate of fresh crusty bread (I am tempted to write baguette but would be dismissed as a tosser) and peach kernel with a finish of river-stone minerality. A wine of individuality and complexity. Open a cool bottle, start shucking oysters and begin humming.
Technical
Grapes (largely Mendoza and Clone 15) were hand harvested over a period of three weeks from the Moutere clay gravel vineyards plus a portion from the alluvial gravels of Lord Rutherford Vineyard. All fruit was sorted in the vineyard then gently whole bunch pressed. Barrique fermented with wild yeast, 100% malolactic ferment.. minimal filtration.
Fine Chardonnay is fabulous. The day of the oaky, blokey clumsy Chardonnay is over and the elegant, refined and poised Chardonnays of the world are fighting back and will remain a joy forever. Viognier or Gruner Vetliner are interesting additions to our cellars but they will not replace Chardonnay. Correspondence on this subject is welcomed.
“Neudorf is a stunning, stunning winery and a beautiful place to visit. They have an obsession with quality and they produce superb Pinot, superb Riesling and this Nelson Chardonnay 08 is lean and refreshing and an absolute cracker.” – John Hakwesby Radio NZ.
Tasting Notes: Download PDF
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