SHEILD Chardonnay 2023

Reviews

James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com): 94/100. Tension and intensity with cooked apples, toasted oak and hints of bread dough following through to a medium body, lovely fruit and a complex finish. It’s all here.

Cameron Douglas MS: 92/100.  A distinctive bouquet of peaches and cream, apricots and vanilla, whipped cream and a light toasty wood complexity. A soft creamy texture touches the palate first with textures from acidity and fine wood tannins, then flavours of ripe stone fruits and grapefruit. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from 2024 through 2029.

David Walker Bell, WineFolio: 92/100. A wine from the Nelson region, using Mendoza and Clone 15 grapes from the Waimea Plains. A vibrant lemon yellow gold in the glass. Good varietal typicity and golden aromas of peach, grapefruit, pear, brazil nut, quince, tarragon and lemon curd. The palate has a citric verve and energy, towed along by a fine line of juicy acidity. Ripe, with an assured, fleshy weight through the middle. There is a gentle spice and the oak is a well-integrated, and well-rounded background note. Finishes well – with good length and harmony.

Tasting note

A characterful Chardonnay with a bright lemon-yellow color. On the nose, it offers aromas of hazelnut, peach, and ripe citrus fruits – and what you smell, you’ll taste as well. The wine is full-bodied, with lovely fruitiness and pleasantly soft acidity. The finish is smooth and long.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Type: White wine from New Zealand

Varietal: Chardonnay

Food match: Pairs especially well with roast chicken, creamy pasta, grilled fish or mild soft cheese. Also perfect for a relaxed evening with friends.

Vineyard: Twin Rivers (Waimea Plains), Nelson, New Zealand.

Vintage 2023: Winter 2022 was not especially cold as local sea temperatures remained warmish and influenced the land. Precipitation on the other hand was frequent, and sometimes heavy. Budburst was again early as we have become accustomed to with the La Nina dominant weather umbrella. Spring growth was also vigorous with water at field capacity in the soils, and warmer temperatures. The energetic spring conditions proved challenging for flowering and fruitset resulting in variability within varieties and across regional sites. Periodic rain events continued through summer and the vineyard vigor continued as well. Temperatures remained warm so fruit development was not retarded. Fingers were crossed from verasion and with a large amount of luck the rain held off and fruit was allowed to ripen and be harvested. Picking started early March with the Rose and was completed in a relatively short four week period. Grapes were once again clean and ripe.

Regional climate: Nelson’s sheltered topography gives protection from strong winds; combined with its proximity to the sea this gives milder temperatures than other South Island regions, mitigating frost risk. Regularly New Zealand’s sunniest region and with good diurnal variation this helps emphasise varietal character. High sunlight hours and a long growing season give wonderful fruit purity.

Produced and bottled by: Drinks Cabinet Limited, Atawhai, Nelson 7010, New Zealand

Imported by: vinabonus GmbH, Simmedenweg 40, 34134 Kassel, Germany.

To all Chardonnay wines