COOPERS CREEK SWAMP RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2020

Gold Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show 2023

Coopers Creek's top of the line Chardonnay. Originally sourced from Swamp Road it is now from Cooper's excellent Middle Road Vineyard next to the Limeworks in Havelock North so you get all that limestone derived focus, complexity and deliciousness. Being 100% barrel fermented and aged in 40% new oak it has plenty of body and oomph but still a nod towards elegance and restraint.

Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Year after year the fruit from this vineyard exhibits ripe lemon and grapefruit characters. This is interwoven with subtle oak and lees and MLF derived creaminess. Harmony and balance have become two of the hallmarks of our Swamp Reserve style. This wine has fineness and structure, yet is also incredibly complex and long.

Swamp Reserve Chardonnay is made from the top block of the Middle Road Vineyard, where the vines produce the ripest and cleanest fruit. The grapes were harvested on March 3rd 2020 and transported to Auckland, where they were pressed lightly to reduce phenolic extraction. The juice was settled before being transferred to a mix of new and seasoned (40:60) French oak barriques. Primary and Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel, with the wine aging a further 10 months on yeast lees. Barrels were individually selected for the blend based on their fruit purity and aromatic excellence. The blend was lightly filtered and bottled on May 19th 2021."

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
"Based on the winery's best Hawke's Bay grapes, this seductive Chardonnay has a finely judged balance of rich, citrusy, peachy fruit flavours and toasty oak. Hand-picked in the company's Middle Road Vineyard at Havelock North, it is fermented and matured in French oak barriques (40 per cent new in 2020), and given a full, softening malolactic fermentation. The 2020 vintage is still very youthful. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours, showing excellent vigour and complexity, fresh acidity, and a lingering finish. Best drinking 2024+."

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, March 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"Deep straw and polished lemon hues lead to a bouquet of complexity and power. Aromas of dark fleshed peach and ripe red apple, nectarine and toasty barrel, quince flesh and sweet roasted Brazil-nut new wood scents. Dry, full-bodied, flavours reflect the bouquet with power and intensity. Medium+ acidity and a satin – whipped cream touch then fine tannins from wood layer in. Flavours of stone fruits and white fleshed orchard harvest, vanilla and roasted nut flavours. A big wine with longevity on its side. Lengthy finish. A food wine for a while yet with best drinking from late 2024 through 2030."

94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2020 Vintage)
"Ripe, weighty chardonnay with citrus, grapefruit, sizzled butter, roasted chestnut, struck-flint and spicy oak flavours supported by racy acidity and a backbone of fine tannins. It will benefit from a little bottle age."

5 Stars & 94/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, February 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"Seductively generous and comforting, the wine shows golden peach, pineapple, French vanilla, cedar and brioche characters, followed by a richly textured palate that's filled with ripe fruit intensity backed by creamy texture and refreshing acidity. Wonderfully rounded and satisfying. At its best: now to 2028."