Organised Chaos Pinot Gris 2020
A Hawke’s Bay wine, made with Eskdale fruit. A bright pale gold, greening at the edges – invitingly crisp and fresh on the nose. Perfumed with ripe pear and lemon blossom, like smelling an armful of fresh picked fruit from the orchard. Off-dry with a vibrant acidity that balances beautifully the opulent flavours with a pure line through the palate. Decadent and succulent – a crunchy bowl of nectarine, nashi, melon and tangerine slathered with a honey and drops of rosewater. Silken texture, and finishes long, elegant and drier. 92pts.
Organised Chaos Chardonnay 2020
From the Havelock Hills, a limestone rich soil to give life to this Chardonnay from the excellent ’20 vintage. Brilliant, pale lemon-green in the glass, with aromas of grapefruit, greengage and blanched almond, underscored by an oyster shell minerality. Clarity, tension and elegance, with a brisk, jazzy, acid line. Palate is concentrated with ginger, white peach and fennel but still quite taut and focussed. I detected a wisp of oak, and it has a minerally, lacey texture. Took a chill well – once it warmed up it lost clarity and zip – keep it cool, and I think it’s a drink-now prospect. 90pts. Not my ideal Chardonnay, but a well-crafted style taking its own direction.
Organised Chaos Chenin Blanc 2020
Sourced from the excellent Two Terraces vineyard at Mangatahi Terraces. Light golden yellow in the glass, pale and a touch of green to the edges. Scented with apricot, satsuma and pear with a white floral lift. Some weight on the palate, but stays lithe and bouncy with a balanced, tart acidity. Ripe with quince, pear, honey and preserved lemon flavours. Texture has a rounded, waxy, viscosity – quite unctuous. Add in a lick of drying grapefruit pith towards the end. Great length and an intruiging, complex finish. 92pts.
