A wine from Central Otago, and a new label for me – although I have visited the impressive Ayrburn resort – I found it had a “low-slung casual chic”. A pale lemon-green colour in the glass. The perfume is elegant not opulence, with zesty grapefruit, lemon, kumquat, lychee and ginger. Quite precise, cool-toned and medium-bodied, with a briney acidity that gives a steady line through the palate. A youthful freshness and a minerality of something like oyster shell. There is a silky texture too, that adds more breadth to the palate. Finishes with a fine crispness and quite dry. 92pts
Ayrburn Billy’s Chardonnay 2023
