Villa Maria Chardonnay Keltern 2022 750ml

$33.75/bottle

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Villa Maria Chardonnay Keltern 2022 750ml

Name: Villa Maria Chardonnay Keltern 2022 750ml
Brand: Villa Maria
SKU: 952231
Price: 33.75 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 92.3 (4 reviews)

Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.

SKU 952231

$33.75/bottle

Availability: This item is available for online ordering only. It can be picked up or shipped from our location within 4-6 business days. See FAQ for more.

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JS 94pts

WA 92pts

WE 92pts

VM 91pts

See professional reviews

Butter cream, baked lemons, hazelnuts and mangoes on the nose. Touch of anise, too. It’s layered, creamy and buttery. Full-bodied with lemony freshness, as well as a subtle spicy edge on the long and sleek finish. Sustainable. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

Country: New Zealand
Region: Hawkes Bay

Size: 750ml
Color: White
Alcohol by Vol: 13.5%

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SKU: 952231

More about this item

Winery

Villa Maria

Shop all from Villa Maria

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country

New Zealand

As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.

Region

Hawkes Bay

The beautiful region of Hawkes Bay in northern New Zealand is home to many of the country's oldest wineries, and is the birthplace of New Zealand's now enormous and important wine industry. Since the 1850s, Hawkes Bay has proven to be one of the country's most successful and widely renowned wine regions, with turnover increasing each year, and with its excellent quality, characterful and flavorful wines finding new fans all the time. The region is widely regarded as being the sunniest in New Zealand, and has a fantastic climate for viticulture. Indeed, the moderate humidity, low rainfall and blazing sunshine help the grapes which grow there flourish to full ripeness, and allow the resulting wine to be packed full of flavor and the finest features of the terroir.

Ratings & Reviews

JS 94pts

James Suckling

WA 92pts

Wine Advocate

The 2022 Keltern Chardonnay is tropical and with a creamy texture in the mouth, with yellow peach and sweet apricot fruit. This has salty acidity and attractive drive across the mouth. The cooler 2022 season has imbued the wine with energy and texture. I like this wine very much today. The first vintage of this wine was 2002, and the vineyard has an inland/continental climate, planted mainly to Clone 95, with some low-yielding Clone 548. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

WE 92pts

Wine Enthusiast

This premium Chardonnay, from a well-known Kiwi brand, is a creamy, rich wine with aromas of peach, lemon custard, ginger cookie and toast. The palate is almost surprisingly fresh, with the acidity adding welcome freshness to the oaky, lactic intensity. It drives fruit flavors through to a long finish. Still young, this should cellar nicely until 2033, at least. (Cellar Selection)

VM 91pts

Vinous Media

The Chardonnay Keltern is Villa Maria's iconic Chardonnay, but in 2022, it's not quite in top form. There's substance in its core and the fruit is well handled, offering clarity and precision. It offers a combination of acidity and phenolics that create power and structure on the finish. However, having picked earlier than normal, it somewhat lacks the flavor development and richness we've become accustomed to. There's no change in the oak regime, but it feels a little overt compared to the fruit weight in this vintage and the integration is not quite there. Maybe time will help? It's still a wine that has depth and texture, but we ve come to expect so much from this cuvée that when it's not singing, we're looking to find faults. Many New Zealand wineries can only dream of achieving this quality in a good vintage, let alone a challenging one.

Winery Notes

Displaying a brilliant straw and lime-tinted hue in the glass, the nose offers a fragrant and complex medley of ripe melon, citrus blossom and nougat, complemented by underlying notes of grilled nuts. The palate is generous and mouthfilling initially then the long line of concentration and natural acidity leads to a sustained and powerful finish. This wine will develop further complexity, mineral and toast like characters with careful cellaring.

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