IRONGATE CHARDONNAY 2006

 
Grapes:
100% Chardonnay

Region:
Hawke`s Bay

Winemaker:
Adam Hazeldine

Recommended Food:
Irongate Chardonnay is an intense, richly flavoured wine and is an ideal match for rich seafood and white meat dishes. Try it with Chargrilled Squid and Lemon Butter Sauce, or Barbecued Chicken.

Recommended Cellaring: 
4-8 years

Production Notes: 
Selected parcels of hand harvested fruit were gently whole bunch pressed. The free run was put to French oak, 25% new, for wild fermentation. After primary ferment the wine was lees stirred to add complexity and build palate weight. A total of 11 months was spent in barrel before assembly and bottling.

Tasting Notes:
Citrus aromas layered with peach, some toffee apple and a hint of cedar greet the taster. The palate has a full fruited entry of peach and melon, joined by a mineral complex. This opulent wine displays a lovely creamy texture with a long finish and harmonious oak influence.

Awards:

GOLD MEDAL
-International Chardonnay Challenge, NZ, 2010

SILVER MEDAL
-Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2010

SILVER MEDAL
-Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2009

Reviews:
"Concentrated chardonnay with sleek, grapefruit/citrus flavours plus nutty yeast lees and strong classy oak.  Bottle age has introduced  a toasty dimension that adds appeal.  Serious wine with cellaring potential."
5 STARS
93 POINTS
-Bob Campbell, Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, Sept 2009

"I was more impressed by the 2006 Irongate Hawke's Bay Chardonnay, sourced from the Gimblett Gravels and matured for 10 months in French oak without malo. A muted, kerosene-tinged nose is followed by an intense palate with green apples, kiwi fruit and a hint of orange peel and a crisp, sharp finish that leaves the palate completely refreshed."
90 POINTS
-Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Issue #176, April 2008 

"The nose is stylish and opulent displaying pineapple, mango, cashew and mealy characters. The palate is powerful and intense showing richly textured mouthfeel, bright acidity and a lengthy, expansive finish. The wine is starting to show some mature characters but remains youthful and vibrant. It's impeccably balanced and poised with layers of mouth-pleasing flavours."
5 STARS
94 POINTS
-Sam Kim, WineOrbit.co.nz, Nov 09

"A rich creamy wine with citrusy, deftly oaked, slightly minerally flavours, drinking well now."
4.5 STARS
-Michael Cooper's Wine Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines 2010

"Elegant wine that has aromas of peach, citrus and caramel. The peaches become more dominant in the palate with melon and butterscotch notes as well as a mineral backbone. Good creamy texture, well integrated oak and persistent finish."
4 STARS
CONSUMERS CHOICE
-TiZWine.com, Feb 2010

"A Chardonnay with a history of quality.  This chapter of the Babich Irongate story features a lively interplay between biscuity, bees-waxy sweetness and a more austere mineral note.  A very classy wine that couldn't go wrong with raw oysters."
4 STARS
-Cuisine Magazine, May 2010

Video Review - Lady Parker Wine Reviews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDWcHT5gdQ