BLACK ESTATE HOME CHARDONNAY 2020

Black Estate winemaker Nicholas Brown has been awarded 2022 NZ Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine

Black Estate have been gaining much attention over the last few years and all of it is well deserved. They are certainly one of the emerging stars in Waipara. The single vineyard wine from the home block at Black Estate displays the hallmark characters of Black Estate Chardonnay – texture, broad suppleness and mineral length.

The Home vineyard is the one in front of the restaurant. All Mendoza clone, planted by Russell Black in 1994. Now fully bio-dynamically farmed, a lot of effort has gone into the vineyard to encourage healthy, hardy vines that have roots that penetrate well down into the calcareous vein that runs through the clays soils.

Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Aromas of grapefruit, hazelnut, orange blossom nectarine and sea spray. Rich, pure and integrated with a dense core of concentrated fruit. The flavours taper to a salty, mineral and long finish.  Drink now until 2030.

This is an unfiltered wine with small amounts of sediment. Please allow the bottle to stand and settle before pouring. Decanting will allow maximum expression of aroma and purity of fruit to emerge."

Rated Outstanding & 96/100 Cameron Douglas MS, April 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Distinctive and new, complex with a core of ripe summer orchard fruits from quince and apple to peach and citrus. There’s a layer of lees and oak that are intertwined adding breadth and depth to the bouquet. Youthful, engaging and complex. A satin texture touches first then immediately contrasted by acidity and texture, fine tannins and a core of fruit flavours paint the palate reflect the bouquet. After several minutes in glass the wine opens up more flavour and texture stories. A fantastic wine, youthful and complex, ready to drink from late 2022 through 2030+."

5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2020 Vintage)
"Rich and quite weighty wine with peach, roasted nut, toast, honey and subtle spicy oak with a backbone of mouth-watering acidity. A classy chardonnay."

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
"Certified organic, the elegant 2020 vintage is from the Home Vineyard at Omihi, Waipara. Hand-picked from vines planted in 2011 and 1994, it was fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Bright, light yellow/green, it is fragrant, mouthfilling and vigorous, with rich, peachy, citrusy flavours, finely balanced oak and a hint of butterscotch. A classy, savoury wine, with a strong sense of youthful drive, it's well worth cellaring to 2024+."

4 ½ Stars Yvonne Lorkin, August 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Bright, glossy and golden in the glass, this chardonnay is scented with gunflint, apple, green nectarine and caramelised oak, with a vein of citrus and toast roaring through onto the palate. It’s youthful, frisky and zesty on the palate with a core of spiced peach and buckets of mineral-heavy textures. The length of flavour is marathon-like, making it a rewarding sip for certain."