From Waiheke island – this Chardonnay now split off from the ‘Reserve’ to showcase the wild ferment side of the winemaking. Tasted alongside the 2018 ‘Reserve’ (which included this portion of wine previously) and the 2019 version, with this wine – it shows the clarity that Passage Rock are looking for with the creation of the two, now separate.
A brilliance of pale lemon-green in the glass, and with a distinctive ‘struck match’ flinty white smoke aroma of reductivity. However, alongside this is a gorgeously fragrant stonefruit and citrus mix of floral, spice and ripe fruits – complex, airy and lifted when it falls together like this. Bright and fresh with a pithy acidity and tension-filled through the palate. Quite ‘green’ in style, with grapefruit, peach, chamomile, cardamom, apple and dried pineapple flavours. A sustained note of minerality and more spice deeper into the layers. Great depth and excellent length to the finish. 92pts.
