Extremely reductive at first pour; needs hours in the decanter to open up and show some fruit, but the strong struck match remains. Really reminded me of Dog Point at least in this regard. The palate is quite nice with a soft texture and good freshness. Not too much oak. Solid finish. 16/20
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Tuesday night drinks at home with neighbourhood folks. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Initially dominated by flinty reduction on the nose. Blows off after a while to reveal all the same notes I got as before, but with the oak a little more integrated. Hint of tropical fruit added. Lots of geologic stony minerality. Still great acidity. Mealy oatmeal. Lots of substance and long finish.
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Medium lemon in the glass. Mad reduction when just opened, smelled really bad. After 45 minutes of decanting it opens up to notes of lime, lemon, green apple, oatmeal. Drunk this over 3 hours, but it didn’t really impress. It feels like there is all this oak and acidity on the frontline, but no depth or development beyond this. Quite thin.
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Hands down the best white I had from NZ could easily have fooled me for being a Puligny. Very pleased that I bought a case might even improve a bit with a few years in the cellar but drinks so well now. 92-93 pts
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Pyramid Valley tasting at 67PM with Steve Smith MW. Drank in Zalto Universal. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of nicely nutty oak, geologic rocks, citrus lemon curd and pith, hint of hot oil. White peach with more air. On the palate, dry, good high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14.5%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of salty licking wet stones and rocks minerality, nicely integrated nutty oak, rich energetic citrus lemon curd and pith, white and yellow peaches. Mealy oatmeal to the long finish. Very good quality Chardonnay! So well made! Ready to drink and can age a bit too. At the same price and age range this would thrash so many other Chards including Bourgogne and Village wines out there.
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2/25/2024 - ploher wrote:
Extremely reductive at first pour; needs hours in the decanter to open up and show some fruit, but the strong struck match remains. Really reminded me of Dog Point at least in this regard. The palate is quite nice with a soft texture and good freshness. Not too much oak. Solid finish. 16/20
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1/9/2024 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Tuesday night drinks at home with neighbourhood folks. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Initially dominated by flinty reduction on the nose. Blows off after a while to reveal all the same notes I got as before, but with the oak a little more integrated. Hint of tropical fruit added.
Lots of geologic stony minerality. Still great acidity. Mealy oatmeal. Lots of substance and long finish.
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12/16/2023 - grapenomad wrote: 83 Points
Medium lemon in the glass. Mad reduction when just opened, smelled really bad. After 45 minutes of decanting it opens up to notes of lime, lemon, green apple, oatmeal. Drunk this over 3 hours, but it didn’t really impress. It feels like there is all this oak and acidity on the frontline, but no depth or development beyond this. Quite thin.
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2/26/2023 - Hecht_Pede wrote: 92 Points
Hands down the best white I had from NZ could easily have fooled me for being a Puligny. Very pleased that I bought a case might even improve a bit with a few years in the cellar but drinks so well now. 92-93 pts
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2/9/2023 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
So fresh and intense, limes and apricots. Full finish. Very long.
Excellent!
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11/3/2022 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Pyramid Valley tasting at 67PM with Steve Smith MW. Drank in Zalto Universal.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of nicely nutty oak, geologic rocks, citrus lemon curd and pith, hint of hot oil. White peach with more air.
On the palate, dry, good high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14.5%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of salty licking wet stones and rocks minerality, nicely integrated nutty oak, rich energetic citrus lemon curd and pith, white and yellow peaches. Mealy oatmeal to the long finish.
Very good quality Chardonnay! So well made! Ready to drink and can age a bit too. At the same price and age range this would thrash so many other Chards including Bourgogne and Village wines out there.
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