The 15 chardonnays in this tasting ranged from the sublime - Neudorf's long-lived, understated but beautifully balanced Moutere Chardonnay 2007 ($55 ) - to several boring wines that tasted of minimal fruit with a hint of cardboard at the bottom end of the price range - cheap and only partly cheerful.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz
A fragrant Nelson-Marlborough blend with lots of buttery, toasty oak with stone fruit in the background and a lingering, crisp, nutty aftertaste.
Just the thing for lovers of oaky wines.
4 stars (out of 5)
Good value
A bright wine with ripe stonefruit supported by nutty, toasty oak and a crisp, juicy finish.
A versatile wine.
3 stars (out of 5)
Poor value
Fragrant with hints of grapefruit and tropical fruit, understated oak and just a suggestion of nuts supporting and giving structure and texture to this delicious, crisp wine.
4 stars (out of 5)
Average value
Suggesting ripe peaches with a hint of vanilla, oak and cashews, this textural wine is relatively restrained with a crisp finish.
3 stars (out of 5)
Average value
Something slightly different and very drinkable from the other side of the world, with a suggestion of honey and nuts, understated fruit and a crisp finish.
Match with fish, light meat or cheese dishes or roasted or chargrilled vegetables.
3 stars (out of 5)
Poor value
Cuve is a new label in the Church Road range, between the regular wine and the reserve.
This is stylish, textural and beautifully balanced with suggestions of ripe stone fruit and a background of buttery nuts, toasty oak and a crisp finish.
4 stars (out of 5)
Average value
