Obsidian Chardonnay 2011

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ (4 ½ Stars)

“Powerful, full-bodied northern style, matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (40% new). Generous and sweet-fruited, with ripe, peachy flavours, a hint of butterscotch, biscuity, savoury notes adding complexity and a long finish. Drink now or cellar”

Michael Cooper Recent Releases, Winestate Magazine, Nov/Dec 2012.

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“It's restrained and savoury on the nose with yellow peach, citrus and oatmeal characters with a hint of vanilla oak. The palate is well weighted showing rich texture and beautifully balanced acidity, leading to an expansive finish. Showing good promise. At its best: now to 2015.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Issue 19, 2012.

Obsidian Chardonnay 2010

★ ★ ★ ★1/2 (41/2 Stars)

“It's beautiful, ripe and fragrant on the nose displaying pineapple, peach and citrus characters with subtle vanilin oak notes. The palate is juicy and smooth with creamy texture and well balanced acidity leading to an expansive finish. Generous and opulent while remaining pristine and poised. At its best 2015.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec. 2012.

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“... The 2010 is also stylish, with strong, ripe, citrusy, peachy, slightly nutty flavours, showing good complexity. Rich and subtle, it’s well worth cellaring.”

Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines, 2012

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“....ripe citrus and mealy fruit along with buttered toast and nutty aromas. Full-bodied and with real power and drive, this rich, but restrained, citrus and nectarine fruit flavours showing....This is a powerful solid wine, still tight, and will become richer over the next 3-5 years.”

Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Oct 2011

“Nothing timid about this wine, it has a no-holds barred style with heaps of character. Hazelnuts, peach and brioche flavours leap out of the glass and the palate is rich and full with loads of texture and weight. A clean, lingering citrus finish”

John Hawkesby, Canvas Magazine, 20 Nov 2011

Obsidian Chardonnay 2009

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ (4 ½ Stars)

“Well worth cellaring, this very refined, elegant wine was barrique-aged for eight months. Mouthfilling and finely textured, it has youthful peach and grapefruit flavours, showing excellent ripeness, delicacy and freshness, and lovely harmony.”

Michael Cooper Recent Releases, Winestate Magazine, July/August 2010 &
Michael Cooper’s Wine Buyers Guide 2011

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ (4 ½ Stars)

“It’s youthful yet appealing and engaging with lifted aromas of stonefruit, citrus and nutty oak. The palate is full and expansive with a succulent mouthfeel and creamy texture leading to a delicious long finish. Bigger framed and bold, this should develop fabulous richness with time. At its best: now to 2014.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Issue 15, 2011

SILVER MEDAL
NZ International Wine Competition 2010

Obsidian Chardonnay 2008

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“Still very youthful, this is a fresh, lively wine with grapefruit-like flavours, mealy notes adding complexity and a slightly creamy finish. Well worth cellaring.”

Winestate Magazine, Upper North Island Regional tasting, July/Aug 2009

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“Nice primary fruit showing good citrus flavours and some savoury white pepper notes. Simple, sweet vanilla oak. Shows some warmth on the finish.”

Wine NZ Magazine, Autumn 2009

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 Stars)

“Pale lemon. Bouquet is even more delicate than the Mudbrick, with a floral component including English pale flowers initially raising the possibility of pinot gris (in the blind tasting), backed by excellent barrel-ferment, lees-autolysis and MLF. The whole wine shows a light and deft hand in the winemaking, an approach optimising the variety and style of the wine, without artefact dominating. Palate includes creamy and mealy notes with pale stone fruit flavours, good acid balance, ... aftertaste lingers delightfully”

Geoff Kelly, www.geoffkellywinereviews.co.nz, July 2009

90/100 points

“With an attractive nose of brioche, a touch of coconut and almond, nice definition and poise, the palate of the 2008 Obsidian Chardonnay is well balanced with well integrated creamy new oak, touches of vanilla and crème brulee. Nice poise and tension on the understated finish. Superb. Drink now-2013.”

Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, www.eRobertParker.com, Oct 09