SAINT CLAIR PIONEER BLOCK 10 TWIN HILLS CHARDONNAY 2022

Trophy for Champion Chardonnay – The National Wine Awards Aotearoa New Zealand 2024
Gold Medal & 95/100 – Decanter World Wine Awards 2024
Gold Medal – Marlborough Wine Show 2024
Gold Medal – The National Wine Awards Aotearoa New Zealand 2024

Great buying here on a lovely big rich Chardonnay from Marlborough. With an impressive 95 points and Gold Medal from one of the world's premier wine shows, you can be assured of the quality. It's almost ludicrous that we can offer it to you at this barely believable price!

95/100 DWWA Judge's Comments (2022 Vintage)
"The epitome of poise and elegance with ample stony mineral notes and a flourish of honeyed nuts. Intense and structured with a chalky acid crunch and energising length."

Reviews for the 2021 vintage below…

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Complex aromas of preserved lemon, sweet oak and roasted almond. The palate is round and full with flavours of ripe citrus, roasted hazelnut and a toasty oak note. Nine months maturation on lees in French oak barrels has assisted with creating a rich creaminess and fine tannin structure.

Fruit was predominantly sourced from the valley between twin peaks in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys sub-region. The fruit was partially handpicked and whole bunch pressed to ensure the vineyard characters and fruit flavours were preserved. The juice was barrel fermented in 100 per cent French oak (33 per cent new oak barrels) using selected yeast strains. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by 9 months aging on yeast lees with regular stirring. Only the best barrels were selected for the Twin Hills Pioneer Block wine."

Joelle Thomson, drinksbiz Magazine, April/May 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"Marlborough Chardonnay plays second fiddle to the region’s best known white, yet wines like this one beg the question: why? Smooth, full-bodied and full of flavour, this wine is the essence of great Chardonnay. It has all the creamy nuances from winemaker talent, but also the citrusy purity and ripe nectarine, grapefruit and gentle lemon flavours of great dry whites."

5 Stars Michael Cooper, July 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"The very ageworthy 2021 vintage was grown 'predominantly' in the company's Omaka Valley vineyard, in the Southern Valleys, partly hand-picked, and fermented and lees-aged for nine months in French oak casks (33 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with concentrated peach and grapefruit flavours, gently seasoned with biscuity oak, finely balanced acidity, and a long, savoury finish. Full of youthful vigour, it should be at its best 2025+."

4 Stars Cuisine Chardonnay Tasting, August 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"A complex nose with plenty going on including lifted oak, bright clean fruit and lees characteristics. The palate also has plenty to enjoy with lots of expressive fruit and bright acid. The texture and weight present are impressive, as is the length."