2024 Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay 750ml

TASTING NOTES Chalky and flinty aromas lift from the glass, interwoven with fleshy stone fruit, pithy citrus, and delicate hints of brioche and crème brûlée The palate is rich and concentrated yet tightly coiled, showing tangy lemon, meringue, pie crust, oatmeal, and peach. A taut structure and piercing acidity bring precision, while an underlying richness and fleshy texture hint at what’s to come with time. This wine will undoubtedly benefit from cellaring, gradually unfurling into its full potential. If enjoyed young, decanting or extended exposure to air is recommended. REGION NOTES Felton Road farms four properties totalling 32 ha in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. Chardonnay is mostly grown on the Elms vineyard in Blocks 2, 6, 8 & 9; plus approximately 10% coming from Cornish Point vineyard. There are a range of altitudes and aspects with the soils mostly deep alluvial schist gravels. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity REVIEWS 95 points. This is a hard yes. It’s both flavoursome and frisky, it’s long through the finish, it has texture but it keeps up the momentum. Stonefruit, flint, nashi pear, a umami note and flashes of nougat and cedar. Everything here is in alignment and in harmony. It’s another beautiful chardonnay from Bannockburn. Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au