Tasting Notes: Enticing aromas of brown sugar and vanilla custardentwined with a bright citrus note reminiscent of homemade lemon curd. The palate is layered with ripe golden peaches and caramelised figs, while being driven by a seam of flinty minerality. There is an earthy richness, evoking thoughts of freshly cut hay, roasted nuts and faint whiffs of wood smoke.
A wine with hidden charms, tight structure and excellent aging potential.
Winemaker: Kevin Judd and Richelle Tyney
REVIEW:
Joelle Thomson Drinksbiz 2024 Chardonnay is the world's most popular white wine and thrives everywhere it is grown in New Zealand - from Northland to Central Otago, and in Marlborough too, which is home to this impressive wine. The 2022 Greywacke Chardonnay was made by the father-son team of Kevin and Alex Judd, who have gently coaxed the best into each bottle of this full-bodied bone-dry wine from two outstanding clones (Mendoza and clone 95). All grapes were handpicked and whole-bunch pressed then fermented with indigenous yeast in French oak barriques (20% new) for 11 months. Occasional lees stirring adds depth and a creamy texture to this complex, nuanced wine, which drinks well now and will really come into its own in another five years.
About Greywacke: Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and the name of New Zealand’s most abundant bedrock. These understated grey river stones are found throughout Marlborough’s rivers and alluvial vineyard soils. Established in 2009, Greywacke is truly a family affair and while the company now exports its wines all over the world, the ethos is very much ‘keep it simple and hands-on’ with a small, dedicated team running the company from Greywacke HQ in the heart of Marlborough’s Omaka Valley. The fruit is sourced from mature vineyards in prime viticultural sites to optimise the potential afforded by Marlborough’s sunny South Pacific climate.
