Kumeu River Chardonnay The Wine Society's 150th Anniversary

An oak dominated full bodied Chardonnay with flavours of toast, vanilla hazelnuts and vanilla softened up with melted butter. The fruit only appeared once I tucked in to my smoked salmon starter but once the fish flavours had subsided the oak came to the fore once again. This is a good wine and on reflection perhaps this needs a little more time for the fruit to shine through and the oak to become a little more integrated. CHP 90 pts