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Buy OnlineWinery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The limestone-rich soils influence the aromatics and texture of this wine lending an ethereal flow that dances in harmony with the racy acidity that gives the wine power and memory. The nose is complex with aromas of lemon curd, lime zest, grapefruit, hazelnut, vanilla, and a subtle savoury note derived from the solids included in the barrel fermentation. The palate shows bright citrus and secondary flavours in synergy with the fine texture. Made in small quantities, this Chardonnay is fresh and intriguing at release and should continue to evolve for 12+ years.
Grapes for this vintage came from three vineyards including the first fruit off our Estate. Based on the positive result from our trial last year, we again did one very early pick for extreme freshness (approximately 30% of the final wine), with the balance picked nearly two weeks later. The small bunches were hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed for gentle extraction. The pressed juice was warmed in the tank, homogenised and put directly into barrels to benefit from the full solids during fermentation. The wine was fermented in French oak barriques (23% new) with weekly stirring through malolactic fermentation. It was blended at 11 months and bottled without filtration. Natural sediment may occur."
94/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, January 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"A wine from the Waitaki Valley in North Otago. The colour is a pale green, with flashes of lemon yellow as you swirl. So youthful and energy-packed, the scent is complex and intriguing, combining citrus and tropical fruits with savoury elements that are stony, smoky and spicy. It may take a while for the tightly wound acidity showing now to unfurl, but even in this nascent stage it provides keen drive and length through the palate. Dry, fresh and precise; building minute by minute in the glass. Balanced between crystalline salinity and a softer, textural embrace that also offers warmer tones of oatmeal, nutmeg and vanilla. The potential here is immense – try to hide this in your cellar for a few years to allow development."
93/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, June 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"The 2023 Waitaki Vineyard Chardonnay leads with ripe, peachy fruit, layers of crushed shells and white spice, and the wine is enduringly mineral on the palate. Two vineyards supplied the fruit for this cuvée, and Winemaker Jen Parr says Valli will have one hectare (three tonnes is the optimistic gauge of yield) of estate fruit available to them from the 2024 vintage. This is intense and piercing, and like last vintage, I love the focus and detail of it. It's richly weighty through the finish and yet driven by fresh acidity and phenolics. This comprises Clone 95 and 548, with 20% new oak."
