Whereas Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s calling card, it’s clear that New Zealand produces a various vary of grape varieties and wine types. In actual fact, on the North Island it’s Chardonnay which has reached full potential for white varieties with some excellent examples being produced from Auckland to Martinborough.
On the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, ‘tright here have been excessive expectations for the Chardonnay class,’ commented Cameron Douglas MS, Regional Chair for New Zealand. ‘Chardonnay from New Zealand has no doubt earned its place within the wine cellars of Decanter readers,’ he continued.
Two Chardonnay wines from the North Island’s Hawke’s Bay have been awarded 97 factors; the judges noting the painstaking work of the area’s winegrowers who’re persevering with to push the standard of Chardonnay to ever-higher ranges. Greatest in Present medal winner Church Highway, Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020 was described as a wine giving ‘a memorable classicism, Burgundy-lovers would possibly be aware,’ with Platinum medal winner Villa Maria, Keltern Chardonnay 2020 displaying a extra opulent and textured type of this selection.
Scroll right down to see New Zealand’s high North Island wines from DWWA 2022
Prime-scoring wines from New Zealand’s North Island solely start with Chardonnay. The island’s crimson wines noticed some excellent outcomes too with Syrah and Pinot Noir nicely value noting.
Once more with two 97 level wines for its reds, Craggy Vary was awarded a spot within the competitors’s high 50 wines for its 2020 Syrah from Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay and Palliser Property a Platinum medal for its 2019 Hua Nui Winery Pinot Noir from Martinborough, Wairarapa. Hawke’s Bay obtained an additional 4 Gold medals for its crimson wines and Wairarapa three, all receiving 95-96 factors.
Bringing collectively a number of the finest wine specialists from throughout the globe to evaluate on the competitors, Cameron Douglas added:
I’d describe the Decanter World Wine Awards as a contest and an occasion that’s the pinnacle of the world wine recreation. In retail, in eating places, for the person who needs to search out one thing explicit in a wine retailer, these little stickers on these bottles imply a world response to wine, not simply a person, smaller competitors that’s regional-based. The importance of a Decanter sticker on a bottle has weight and energy and integrity. In New Zealand we name that Mana. What meaning is respect.
As represented beneath, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa wines characterize the overall of top-awarded wines from the North Island at DWWA 2022, however look out too for wines from a number of the island’s different winegrowing areas together with Northland, Auckland, Bay of Loads and Gisborne.
Uncover the 18 North Island wines which inspired the judges most on the 2022 competitors…
New Zealand: Prime-scoring North Island wines to strive
Hawkes Bay
White
Church Highway, Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Greatest in Present, 97 factors
With two wines on this 12 months’s Greatest In Present choice, Hawkes’s Bay has excelled – and our judges, too, have been notably glad that the North Island winegrowers’ gradual, painstaking work teasing Chardonnay ranges ever greater are obviously paying off. This excellent wine has a shiny gold color with faint lime glints. Freshness and richness are fantastically paired within the aromas – to an extent which is maybe solely attainable south of the equator in New Zealand. That provides this wine a memorable classicism, Burgundy lovers would possibly be aware. Within the mouth, it’s concentrated and assured, as soon as once more striding down that line between the contemporary and the wealthy to vivacious impact. No hurry to drink: a 12 months or two’s cellar softening will deliver nice advantages right here. Alcohol 13.5%
Villa Maria, Keltern Chardonnay 2020
Platinum, 97 factors
Outstanding oak spices on the nostril, displaying vanilla and toast with notes of ripe citrus and stone fruit. Opulent on the palate, creamy and full-bodied, very nicely textured, in concord with an exquisite crisp acidity. Alc 14%
Esk Valley, Seabed Chardonnay 2019
Gold, 95 factors
White smoke and candy barrel spices with a wonderful gunflint scent and cedary notes. Mineral on the palate, with loads of grapefruit. Scrumptious and highly effective. Alc 13%
Askerne, The Archer Chardonnay 2019
Silver, 93 factors
Mineral and refined aromas of freshly harvested citrus and stone fruit aromas. Medium physique, layered palate, scrumptious, youthful and prolonged. Alc 14%
Sileni, Lodge Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Silver, 93 factors
Complicated nostril of peaches, nectarine, vanilla cream and toasty nougat. Wealthy and juicy, displaying charming fruit and finesse. Lengthy end. Alc 13.5%
Vidal, Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Silver, 93 factors
Recent nostril of grapefruit with smoky and toasty notes, hints of cedar and peaches. Evenly textured on the palate. Alc 13.5%
Pask, Chardonnay, Gimblett Gravels 2020
Silver, 92 factors
Candy oak on the nostril, harking back to Bourbon barrels. Complicated palate, silky and nicely textured. Fairly harmonious and lengthy. Alc 13%
Crimson
Craggy Vary, Syrah, Gimblett Gravels 2020
Greatest in Present, 97 factors
The Gimblett Gravels endeavour is a mannequin for terroir analysis outdoors conventional areas, and up to date beneficiant vintages have actually begun to repay for this disciplined personal affiliation of Hawke’s Bay wine growers. That is wonderful Syrah: deep, dense and black-red in color, with basic varietal aromas which mix inside urgency with candy seduction. On the palate the wine gives a cascade of fruit, with tempered acidity and shy tannins. It’s the grain to that fruit which impresses so: main (plum, currant and sloe) but nuanced, too, perfumed to the final drop and with a way of stone behind the fruit to lend it dignity and preserve you coming again to the glass for extra. Alc 13.5%
Villa Maria, Reserve Syrah, Gimblett Gravels 2020
Gold, 96 factors
Seamless, elegant and seductive aromas of blackberry, darkish plum and bramble. Stunning vein of acidity and ripe but rounded fruit tannins, well-judged oak, pretty lengthy end. Alc 13.5%
Leftfield, Malbec 2020
Gold, 95 factors
Darkish, brooding black plum, damson and blueberry aromas with a stunning floral character of violets and rose petals. Expressive palate, with rounded fruit, crunchy and silky. Alc 14%
Trinity Hill, Syrah, Gimblett Gravels 2020
Gold, 95 factors
Delicate, elegant smoky blacks fruits with scrumptious darkish cherry, baked plums and layers of oak spice, smoke and leather-based. Youthful and fairly highly effective, glorious. Alc 13%
Saint Clair, Pioneer Block 17 – Plateau Syrah, Havelock North 2020
Silver, 94 factors
Very engaging bouquet with iron and pencil lead, some graphite and clove spice. Concentrated purple fruits, highly effective palate, smoky end. Alc 12.5%
Wairarapa
White
Palliser Property, Chardonnay, Martinborough 2020
Gold, 95 factors
Restrained nostril displaying aromas of ripe peach fruit with a creamy edge and smoky undertones. Fairly wealthy on the palate, full physique with expansive ripe fruit. Alc 13.5%
Matahiwi Property, Holly South Sequence Chardonnay 2020
Silver, 91 factors
Smoke and toasty barrel spices, baked apple and contemporary citrus. Recent and poised, full of life and engaging with an excellent acidity. Alc 12.5%
Crimson
Palliser Property, Hua Nui Winery Pinot Noir, Martinborough 2019
Platinum, 97 factors
Distinctive bouquet with a flinty character, displaying elegant savoury aromas of autumn leaves and notes of cranberry, wild raspberry and tinned strawberry. Beautiful vibrant and velvety palate with completely ripe fruit and dense tannins. Alc 13%
Craggy Vary, Te Muna Highway Winery Pinot Noir, Martinborough 2019
Gold, 96 factors
Complicated and centered nostril displaying scents of black plums, wild strawberry and seductive mineral notes. Silky texture on the palate, with dense plummy fruit. Alc 13%
Martinborough Winery, House Block Pinot Noir, Martinborough 2019
Gold, 95 factors
Evolving savoury aromas with a elevate of crimson plum and raspberry, seasoned by darkish roses and lifted spice nuances. Scrumptious, ripe, with vibrant succulent crimson fruits. Alc 14%
Paddy Borthwick, Paper Highway Pinot Noir 2021
Gold, 95 factors
Savoury and mineral nostril with notes of wealthy berry, darkish cherry and spiced plum. Agency, structured tannins, well-textured with a really persistent toasty end. Alc 13.5%
