From this now-defunct label’s top tier of wines – Vidal produced some excellent wines in the first twenty years of this century in particular. A well-regarded and age-worthy Chardonnay – this vintage winning Champion Wine of the Show and Trophy at the Air NZ Wine Awards, plus Champion Wine of the Show and Trophy at the Bragato Wine Awards, and the chardonnay trophy at the 2015 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards. Wow.
A pale golden straw colour in the glass, with just a little depth creeping into the colour with ten years of well-cellared bottle age. It doesn’t have that flinty reductivity on the nose that featured in following years from this label. A perfume of white peach, lemon peel, red apple, grapefruit, baking spice, caramel and orange blossom. A saline acidity is still well-calibrated and primary. The fruit takes centre stage, with oak and phenolics framing the ripe citrus and stonefruit flavours. Quite firm on the texture – age hasn’t overtly softened the wine, and it still tantalises the tastebuds – and there is great line through the palate. The finish is precise, long and dry. 94pts
