2014 Chardonnay Block 2

(100% Mendoza clone planted on pure schist and gravel soil in 1992; no new oak; bottled unfined and unfiltered): Bright yellow. Lemon curd, minerals, spices and underripe pineapple on the vibrant nose. Wonderfully fresh and complex on the palate, conveying terrific precision to the flavors of peach, lemon zest, lime, mirabelle , nettles, minerals, spices and crushed herbs. This savory, concentrated wine boasts lovely inner-mouth perfume and much more nuance than the basic Bannockburn bottling. Delivers superb density of texture without any weightiness. This wine was racked after 12 months but returned to barrel for another 5 before being bottle. Finishes tactile, firm and very long, with noteworthy energy. Really leaves the mouth vibrating. An outstanding, site-driven New Zealand Chardonnay.

The 2014 Block 2 Chardonnay has fresh peach, honeyed pear and grapefruit notes with hints of struck flint, baker's yeast and marzipan. Very elegant and refined in the mouth, the light to medium-bodied palate has a lovely satiny texture and tight-knit citrus and savory flavors, finishing long and minerally.