Clearview Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay

Enjoyed it in NZ at winery tasting. Good balance

Tried early 2011 when it should have been at its cellaring peak. A very oaky, old NZ style. Lots of vanilla and a deep yellow colour. Too oaky for me and in terms of cellaring, think the Te Mata Elston cellars a lot better proposition.

Outstanding Hawkes Bay chardonnay. This wine has really come together in the past two years. The once slightly obtrusive oak has married into a concentrated, melony, peaches and cream style of worked chardonnay. Great meal character and a hot finish add interest. This is a bit of a throw-back tp the worked NZ chardonnays of the early 1990s and non the worse for that. Ever so slightly blowsey but has the quality and persistence of fruit to bring a lot …

Really this isn't a 98 but the point is well taken. Excellent flavor and some good depth and acidity. I really like the pear flavor and green apple. Fades slightly in the middle but finishes well. Also a bit more texture but smooth.

A very big, alcoholic Hawkes Bay style. Lots of new French Oak, good fruit and zingy acid. Needs another two years to settle down but has the stuffing to hopefully improve. Excellent match with the Trotter corn soup with shellfish oil recipe - as are most over the top chardonnays.

Concentrated spicy oak,richly fruited,mealy,butterscotch.Too oaky for us.

More spice on the nose but still loads of lemon. Creamy peachy lightly oaked palette.

Trip to Hawkes Bay; 5/24/2008-5/25/2008 : Nice NW Chardonnay. Sweet sensation, lowish acidity, savoury, salty.

If this had been blind I would have assessed as a Burgundy - perfectly integrated, rich, rounded, creamy, butterscotch, honey with citrus cutting through. Absolutely delicious and long lasting.