Alexia 2020 Hawke’s Bay Happy Wife Chardonnay
95 Points - Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
She said don’t buy me flowers or diamonds and pearls, make me a wine. So I did.
Mendoza clone, old vines, and naturally low yields combine to produce the outstanding grapes for this wine. A hands-off approach with wild ferment and minimal handling, but with enough oak to work with the weighty fruit that’s got backbone in spades.
Gunflint, toasted almond, peach, resolute.
Reviews
95 points - Candice Chow – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
“Bright, even, pale yellow. This has an open, elegant bouquet, aromas of peach and citrus curd interweaving delicate oak influence. Medium-bodied, lemon curd, pineapple and peach have a taut core, unfolding blanched almond, whipped butter and a lingering closing. The fruit and mouthfeel show elegance and refinement; talcum like phenolics is delicate and ethereal; a gently taut acid line carries it across the palate. This is a refined Chardonnay showing beauty and purity of fruit, focussed acid drive and a silky, ethereal palate. Match with crayfish sashimi and cheese souffle over the next 6-8 years.
93 points - Cam Douglas, Master Sommelier
“A striking bouquet of roasted yellow stonefruits and raw cashew nut, soft white smoke of wood and baking spices, nicely complex and youthful. The palate shows off texture and some wood spice, fine tannins and medium+ acidity. Fruit flavours of nectarine and peach then baked apple and cashew. Lengthy finish with texture and persistent flavours. Best drinking from 2022 through 2026+.”