2007 Felton Road Chardonnay Central Otago

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 89.2 points

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  3/8/2015 - Barbara B Does not like this wine: 84 Points

  Bright yellow colour. Nose and palate of flint, gunpowder, oak and sulfur, with a touch of melon fruit. Sharp, lemon-sour acidity, acrid. Not a charming wine.

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  2/27/2013 - Rowchan wrote: 84 Points

  Clear, beautiful pale gold complexion, dozens of midget tears.
  Clean, full intensity - almost knocks you over! Aromas of honey, lemon, unripened pears, with a nostalgic sea water-dampened cushions, and firm green olives.
  Dry, med - body, med alcohol, med + acidity, no tannins, good complexity, further tastes of strong citrus, yeast, slight French oak, fresh almonds, and tart bananas. This wine packs strong smells and flavours with a medium finish. I was quite curious about this wine and broke my usual rule of no Chardonnay from NZ and no Sauvignon Blanc from Australia simply because of the Felton Pinot reputation but I have to say that my rule is still a good one - this was a rather harsh Chardonnay and I would only recommend to drink with very salty olives or nuts.

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  9/1/2012 - Rockknocker wrote: 91 Points

  It is now 2012 and this wine is still as fresh as a daisy. Wine Spectator ranked it 84. Parker gave it 87. Houston we have a problem!! CT members were also divided, ranging from 84 to 93. I suppose that pretty much reflects the divisive views on chardonnays, and is an echo of repercussion against the herd infatuation with the "Dolly Parton's" of the 80s and 90s. I tried to blank my mind. It is a lovely wine with a beautiful balance between fruit and cellar master tricks. The wood has by now become totally integrated ... something that not all New Zealand chardonnays can claim. It has not dulled the freshness of the grape at all. It was barrel fermented but largely in old vessels. No phenolic bitterness whatsoever. Subtle creaminess from the MLF but acids remain fresh, perhaps reflecting the early ripening of the 2007 vintage. The earthiness/nuttiness from the lees batonnage is not particularly noticeable, which would have added extra complexity and enjoyment. In terms of value, recent vintages sell for about €20 in Europe. This wine leaves the Burgundies that I have tasted from this price range choking in its dust. The final word - balance.; my score muted by the restricted range of complexity, in particular the spices and earthy tones.

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  12/4/2011 - Goldstone wrote: 87 Points

  Fresh, enjoyable Chardonnay with a bit of an alcoholic kick, yet well proportioned. To my mind this is the best Chardonnay that NZ produces from South Island and it gives a fair run to the ultimately superior Kumei River Chardonnay from Martinborough.

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  9/12/2011 - Goldstone wrote: 84 Points

  This is like a jazz riff on trumpet by Miles Davis playing a hundred themes on "nettles....good and bad "... then Thelonius Monk coming in and playing a delightful flat monotone piano of "Oak....oak...oak". Somehow both 84 and 89 points but nowhere in between....that's jazz!

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View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

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