A wine from Manutuke in the Gisborne region – tasted at the Cellar Door when I visited. The perfume shows a smoky ‘struck-match’ flintiness at first, giving way to peach, apple, lemon, hazelnut and baguette crumb notes. There’s a noticeable frame of oak to the ripe fruit as you head into the palate, where fresh acidity gives plenty of drive. A fuzzy tone of fruit tannin adds a layer complexity, but this is clean, bright and quite elegant winemaking. A nibble of baking spice, nougat and butterscotch slides into the back of the palate, and lends the finish a broader, generous style. 90pts
Natural Wine Co. Organic Chardonnay 2022
