NZ Chardonnay Storm on the Horizon

Tim Jackson MW published an extremely detailed report on Jancis Robinson’s page about the new frontier of New Zealand Chardonnays – boldly noting that some of his colleagues believe that this grape produces the finest white wine New Zealand can make. Among the wineries highlighted in the story and in a tasting of more than 90 wines is Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay. Jackson notes that “Thankfully, wines such as Dog Point Chardonnay 2006 demonstrated not only that reductive character judiciously used can add an attractive dimension over time, but also that the best Kiwi Chardonnays have the staying power to age gracefully.” Perhaps one of the moist poignant comments in the piece comes from Rebecca Gibb, MW, who states “Kiwi Chardonnay is underrated, and there is more to New Zealand than just Sauvignon Blanc. Consumers need to have the courage to experiment and look beyond their norms.” This feature offers a deep dive into the different styles of NZ Chardonnay, its history and tasting notes from the Master of Wine tour. Read it in full HERE