A Chardonnay from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. A pale golden yellow in the glass. Fresh and inviting aromas of lemon, nectarine, grapefruit pith, greengage and crushed herbs. A bracing acidity – very crisp and linear – opens the palate wide open, giving great length and salinity. An exhuberant energy throughout, but tempered by a curd-like textural feel towards the back of the palate. A hint of fine fruit tannins flits by. Tightly coiled for now, but has a well-balanced, persistent finish, and the structure promises well for some bottle development and ageing. 93pts
Marathon Downs ‘Up the Hill’ Chardonnay 2023
