Origines New England Chardonnay 2023

"From a single site in New England and a project that seems to focus on chardonnay from single sites. This site is at 960 metres above sea level on iron/volcanic soil and planted to a single clone. No fining or filtering touches this wine. The winemakers are Alex Beckett and Jan Taborsky.  

This is fine wine paradigm wine. Tense and crisp, poised and persistent. It’s a tightly coiled wine that seems fragrant and pretty then delivers a compact and strict pathway with each sip. Green apple at its crunchiest and coolest, straight out of the fridge lemon water, crushed rock minerality, cooling, alpine herbal elements in tow. Supreme balance, an understatement, and yet the velocity and ferocious freshness leave their mark. Brilliant, electric and thirst-crushing stuff. I’m all over this for its distinct personality and interest."  Rated: 95 Points.  Alcohol: 12.5%.  Mike Bennie.  The Wine Front.

"Sweet pops of nougat and cinnamon spice meld with dusty cedar before yielding to lemon, white nectarine, yellow apple, olive brine, fennel and attractive-though-subtle ginger spice. The palate is medium bodied with a good balance of creamy texture and freshness. Yellow apple, yellow nectarine, and cinnamon are followed by lemon rind and brine, with the fennel and ginger in support. All of this is framed within quite assertive chalky phenolics and persistent pithy acidity to a long and even finish. This is cool and svelte, with veins of salinity adding interest and intrigue. A great release." Rating: 94+ Tom Kline.  Wine Pilot

"Such a different wine this vintage. Much more layered, a bit wilder too. It works nicely with more expression. Easily the best of the Origines wines and a real highlight.  Plenty of funk to start, with a dominant sulphide milk bottle edge that almost goes into cheese. Much more winemaking character, but ho boy, is this a wine of contrasts – more fruit power, more layers. Has some swagger too. I really like it."  Andrew Graham.  The OZ Wine Review