2009 Greywacke Chardonnay

[Mahmoud Ali]

2009 Greywacke Chardonnay, Marlborough, NZ (14.5%)

This is now almost ten years old and the colour is a relatively youthful bright yellow gold. The nose is delightful, rich and buttery, loads of cashew nut oak, and ripe rock melon, and, if I didn't know better, a botrytis-like complexity. Beautiful and exotic. The palate is equally rich, and yes, there is an exotic botrytis-like element here as well. The wine is pretty much à point , the balance of flavours delicate and ripe, the buttery chardonnay laced with elegant oak and tropical fruit flavours, with the acidity still offering a refreshing finish. Long, elegant, delicate, and almost sublime, the finish lingers on the palate.. This is excellent.

Well done New Zealand ................. Mahmoud.

[Michael McNally]

Nice note. Thanks Mahmoud. As a lover of aged wine, do you think this will improve, hold or decline from here?

Cheers

Michael

[Mahmoud Ali]

It is hard to say whether it will improve any further. I feel that the oak treatment, which is well done I must say, has integrated a bit more since the last bottle and is much better for it. The first bottle was explored with a couple of friends and at the time they thought it was Meursault-like. If well stored I'm sure this will be good for at least a few more years.

This was screwcapped so next on my list will be the cork sealed 2009 Dog Point Chardonnay.