Dawson James Chardonnay 2019

"From the Meadowbank Vineyard. 40% new oak. 50% malo. A different style to Meadowbank, but tightness of vintage/vineyard is here to see. These wines arrived unannounced, though I guess someone at Meadowbank told them that I might go all right at Chardonnay. Release date is early 2023. A little struck match, preserved lemon, fennel, spicy cinnamon oak and cashew, a slight seaweed saline thing too. Tight, powerful, ripe grapefruit and lemon, a gentle buttery gloss, but plenty of flint and chalky texture, spicy oak shows up a little on the finish, but gee, it’s long and intense and very good. 95pts." Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

"Seems to have the secret of eternal youth, poised on the midpoint of citrus (grapefruit) and stone fruit (white peach). High quality French oak has been absorbed into the fabric of the wine. 97pts.”
James Halliday’s TOP 100 2022