Coopers Creek ‘Chalk Hill’ Viognier 2020

From a label that has pioneered picking varietals from the best locations in the country, comes this Hawke’s Bay wine from the “Select Vineyards” range. The COVID-hit 2020 vintage did provide excellent growing conditions, and this Viognier has a wealth of ripe, almost tropical, fruit notes on the nose. Perfumed with apricot, guava, jasmine, yuzu and baked quince, the palate shows an equally rich and golden density. This is buoyed by some crisp acidity and a very dry quality that is almost Chablis-like. A touch of green herbal adds piquancy and then a creaminess develops towards the finish. By no means a basic easy-drinking white, the complexity showing here may well develop further with a year or two more in bottle. 91pts