Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2020, Villa Maria

Another truly outstanding vintage (2020) of this Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay, and again it has received very high praise.

It has everything you want from a world class Chardonnay; power, poise, complexity and great ageing potential. If you can, keep it for a couple of years to improve further.  Will age till 2030.

97/100 Points, Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier “Fantastic bouquet with piercing aromas of ripe tone fruits and gun-flint, fresh white fleshed orchard fruits, fine new barrel scents and soft baking spice moments. Complex, detailed and seductive. Even better on the palate with a pure fruit core showcasing flavours of grapefruit and stone fruits, citrus pith and wet pebble minerality. Fine tannins and plenty of acidity, a youthful complex and vibrant example.”

Producer notes –
Located east of the Maraekakaho region in Hawkes Bay, directly in the path of cool air currents flowing from a mountain range to the west, the Keltern Vineyard is an inland site, buffered by the Ngaruroro River. Established on an ancient riverbed planted in 1999, the vineyard has silt loams layered over red metals, including large free-draining gravel stones. Vines range in age up to 21 years.

Vintage – with spring frost and hailstorm events Hawkes Bay was off to a nervous start. Once spring was navigated the weather settled and a sensational season ensued. Seasonal data indicated a growing season slightly cooler than the previous four but still above the long-term average, and dry to the point of drought. The Chardonnay harvest was off to a record early start with Keltern vineyard harvested by the 2nd March, our earliest harvest date yet. Hand-harvesting of pristine fruit enabled a minimal intervention winemaking approach, allowing Keltern’s unique characteristics to shine.