Swift Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $30 
Winemaker Lauren Swift has named this her ‘First Edition’ and for a debut solo release, it’s a stunner. It’s all in the barrel she reckons. She’s used Clone 15 fruit grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and poured the third fill off the press into just one, second-use barrel. A barrel she fell in love with. The wine was fermented wild, with indigenous yeast on full solids and the lees were stirred daily for two months post ferment. With intense, grilled grapefruit, roast cashew, spice and smoke aromas and a multi-dimensional palate layered with baked stonefruit, preserved lemon and showing solid, yet elegant acidity, it’s a bright, vibrant wine. Not creamy or ‘buttery’ but that’s not surprising as there was no malolactic fermentation employed and for a wine bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s incredibly clear and glossy. Just 289 bottles were made so get in quick!
To purchase email Lauren at http://www.swiftwines.co.nz
