Chardonnay "Bannockburn" Felton Road 2022 (750 ml)
93 poena - James Suckling
Vinariju Felton Road, smještenu u Central Otagu na Novom Zelandu, kupio je Nigel Greening 2000. godine, a od tada se imanje obrađuje organski i biodinamički. Svo grožđe dolazi isključivo iz vlastitih vinograda, koji su okrenuti ka sjeveru kako bi se maksimalno iskoristilo sunčevo zračenje i postigla optimalna zrelost. Imanje primjenjuje pristup „bez uplitanja“, s ciljem da vina što vjernije odražavaju jedinstveni teroar svake pojedinačne parcele. Rezultat toga su neka od najboljih svjetskih vina od Chardonnayja i Pinot Noira, poznata po svojoj eleganciji, kompleksnosti i izuzetnoj voćnoj dubini.
Felton Road obrađuje četiri vinograda ukupne površine 34 hektara u podregiji Bannockburn u Central Otago. Chardonnay se uglavnom uzgaja u vinogradu Elms, na parcelama 2, 6, 8 i 9, dok oko 10% dolazi iz vinograda Cornish Point. Nakon ručne berbe, grožđe se cijedi u cijelim grozdovima, a sok teče gravitacijom u bačve nakon što se preko noći smiri. Fermentacija se odvija u francuskom hrastu (pretežno u starijim bačvama, sa samo 10% novog drveta), uz autohtone kvasce, što rezultira vinom velike složenosti. Aromatika je nježna, svijetlog tona, sa cvjetnim i citrusnim notama. Na nepcu se javlja blago teksturalno prijanjanje koje daje privlačnu, slanu, gotovo amaro nijansu – izuzetno šarmantno i drugačije. Suptilni slojevi ukusa se postepeno otkrivaju s vremenom u čaši… Ovo je najpristupačniji Chardonnay iz portfolija Felton Road-a, ali i dalje sa značajnim potencijalom za odležavanje. Preporučuje se konzumacija unutar 10 godina od berbe. Sjajan je uz pečenu piletinu, kremasti rižoto ili mekane, topljive sireve.
93 points - James Suckling
The Felton Road winery in New Zealand’s Central Otago was bought by Nigel Greening in 2000 and has been farmed organically & biodynamically since then. Their grapes are entirely grown in their own vineyards, which have a northerly exposure to help maximise ripeness. The estate adopts a ‘hands off’ approach with the aim of producing wines that reflect the unique terroir of each plot. The result is that Felton Road produces some of the best examples of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world, noted for their elegance, complexity and exceptional depth of fruit.
Felton Road farms four properties totalling 34 ha in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. Chardonnay is mostly grown on the Elms vineyard in Blocks 2, 6, 8 & 9, with approximately 10% coming from Cornish Point vineyard. Following manual harvesting, the grapes are whole bunch pressed with the juice flowing to barrel by gravity after overnight settling. Fermentation in French oak (mostly well-seasoned barrels with just 10% new) with indigenous yeasts has produced a wine with considerable complexity. Pretty, lighter toned aromatics with a floral, citrus lift. The palate has a faint grippy textural edge that gives a particularly attractive, savoury, almost amaro grip that is very appealing. Subtle layers of flavour that unfurl with time in the glass... this is definitely the most approachable of Felton Road's Chardonnays but still offers plenty of potential to develop further. Drink within 10 years of the vintage. Pair this with roast chicken, creamy risotto, or soft, gooey cheeses.