A Waiheke Island wine, from an excellent vintage in 2020. A pale straw colour in the glass, with a perfume that is quite tight but alluring – white peach, ginger, almond, pear, vanilla, lemon rind, with a smoky incense and toasted sourdough on the nose. The palate is broader, with a plush, exotic edge to the fruit flavours of melon, nectarine and pineapple. A taut line of acidity stops the fruit being too cloying – with plenty of jazzy, citrus salinity, and gives excellent drive through the palate. The acidity works well with both the phenolic lees and slate, charry oak influences to frame that fruit very well and form a stiff spine to this elegant wine. Well crafted, and will relax and fill out over a couple of years. For now, it drinks well as a young wine, and has a fine, lengthy finish. 94pts
Tantalus Cachette Reserve Chardonnay 2020
