2008 Ata Rangi Chardonnay Craighall

Undergoing 45% malolactic fermentation, the outstanding 2008 Craighall Chardonnay has a light white peach, beeswax and apple-blossom nose with good definition and subtle leesy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth, creamy entry, vibrant acidity and fine concentration with traces of orange peel on the long, honeysuckle finish. Drink now-2017. The 2007 Craighall Chardonnay has even more lift on the nose than the 2008 with notes of grapefruit, nectarine and citrus peel. The palate is very well balanced and good acidity. Here one discerns subtle tropical fruits: guava and pineapple and a caressing, leesy finish that has exceptional clarity and focus. This is a top class New World Chardonnay. Drink now-2017. Ata Rangi, along with Felton Road, was elected a ‘Kiwi Grand Cru’ during the Pinot Noir conference in Wellington in January 2010 and though that is not an ‘official’ classification, it is certainly deserved. Clive Paton continues to produce a finely crafted selection of Martinborough wines that are both animated and expressive. He told me that the benevolent 2008 growing season had a reasonable fruit set with a warm early season, quite a long summer and was fortunate to pick before and after the rain and as usual, Ata Rangi’s wines come highly recommended. Importer: Epic Wines, Santa Cruz, CA; tel. (800) 322-3742

Very light nose.  Lovely texture!  Delicate.  Slightly sweet finish but conscientiously made – very far from tarted up.  Really fine – more passion fruit than minerals.  Neat, persistent finish.  The fruit is admirably racy and vibrant. Could be drunk without food. Just a little more timid than Ata Rangi's standout Pinot Noir. I suspect this will age much, much longer than most NZ Chardonnays.  Great that they are taking the variety seriously! (JR)

Very pale. Not much nose but it's all there on the finish. Just waking up after bottling and it should provide well balanced complex drinking over the next few years. Very winning and racy. Definitely less funky than a white burgundy but it certainly delivers, and is sophisticated. (JR)