Methode Traditionnelle

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic

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Red Wine
 

Monowai Hawkes Bay 2008 Chardonnay

This week I am reviewing yet another of the latest releases from Monowai. Monowai is the vineyard and winery owned by New Zealand winemaker Emma Lowe and Chilean vineyard manager Marcelo Nunez. Both bring truly international expertise to the winemaking process, with both having travelled from Chile and Emma having previous experience winemaking in Australia, Switzerland, South Africa and France as well as Chile, and now the land of her birth, New Zealand.

They used their expertise and skills to pioneer a new winegrowing district in the Hawkes Bay called Crownthorpe. This district has the slightly cooler temperatures required to make premium cool climate wines. Like all their wines, care has been taken both in the vineyard and at the winery to ensure a quality wine has been produced. For those who enjoy oaked Chardonnay, 60% of this wine was aged for 12 months in French oak.

I found the golden 2008 Monowai Chardonnay to exhibit aromas of apricot, peach and nectarine. To me, the palate is reminiscent of apricot and stonefruit characters, with a creamy, buttery texture and notes of vanilla, particularly present in the long lingering finish. There are also some toasty notes in both aroma and on the palate. It has good weight and acid balance making it an enjoyable Chardonnay that is drinking well now.

The 2008 Monowai Chardonnay is one I can recommend with roast chicken, or as a treat try with crayfish split in half and coated with garlic butter. I would expect this wine to cellar well for five years and develop further complexity and richness over that time.

Reviewed by Stephen Clark (3/5/2009)

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