Tony Bish Skeetfield Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2020

Wine Orbit

This combines structure with refinement, showing white flesh stone fruit, lemon peel, flint, roasted hazelnut and oatmeal nuances on the nose. The concentrated palate is substantial with exceptional detail and complexity, wonderfully flowing to a lengthy expansive finish. Impeccably composed and expressed. A compelling superstar.

Raymond Chan

Bright, pale yellow, even colour throughout. The bouquet is voluminous and with good energy; a citrus core grows with oyster shell minerals, delicate spice, yellow floral and a hint of vanilla, oak elements. Medium-bodied, lemon, grapefruit on the entry, interweave yellow blossom, minerals, unfolding yoghurt, lemon curd and a very fine dusting of spice warming the close. The acidity is lacy and uplifting; carry the wine with poise. Dusty phenolics left a silky, long, lingering. This is a refined Chardonnay with immense balance, elegance and good energy. Match with butter-poached langoustine and cheese souffle over the next 7+ years. Dry-farmed Mendoza clone handpicked, whole bunch pressed. 100% barrel-fermented to 13% alc, 60% new Taransaud French oak. 100% MLF, battonage, on lees for 12 months. 19.5/20 pts (98 pts)

Bob Campbell

Soft, rich and concentrated chardonnay with typical Mendoza clone intensity. Luscious peach, nectarine, toast, roasted chestnut and spicy oak flavours with a hint of almost nutty barrel fermentation character.

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Fantastic bouquet - complex and layered, mineral and specific. Aromas of gun flint and wet stony mineral attributes, fresh peach and white apricot, apple and floral highlights. The oak is fine and new-ish. On the palate - fantastic - fresh, vibrant, new and complex. Flavours of white and yellow stone fruits, mineral and flinty qualities, fine lees complexity and a long intriguing finish. This wine will continue to build complexity over the next 2-3 years and least through till 2030 if stored well. Excellent drinking from 2022 through 2030+. Easily the best Skeetfield from the Bish stable of fine wines. Be quick!

Vinous

”The 2020 Chardonnay Skeetfield is a beautiful butterfly still in its cocoon. This dry-farmed, low-yielding site has created a wine with a sense of power in its focused core of white stone fruit. Fermented and raised in French oak over a year, it offers impeccable integration of subtle oak and fruit with a silken texture no doubt assisted by delicate handling from grape to glass, while time on lees has surely provided some of that attractive mouthfeel. What I like most about this wine, though, is its texture, tension and long length; it has a sense of direction and the flavors justkeep going. I think this will look great at five years. If there are any magnums available, put your hand up.”

International Wine Challenge

Flinty mineral notes with lemon tart and pith. A creamy, buttery mid palate with a refreshing finish. Complex and multi-layered.

Rebecca Gibb MW

The 2020 Chardonnay Skeetfield is a beautiful butterfly still in its cocoon. This dry-farmed, low-yielding site has created a wine with a sense of power in its focused core of white stone fruit. Fermented and raised in French oak over a year, it offers impeccable integration of subtle oak and fruit with a silken texture no doubt assisted by delicate handling from grape to glass, while time on lees has surely provided some of that attractive mouthfeel. What I like most about this wine, though, is its texture, tension and long length; it has a sense of direction and the flavors justkeep going. I think this will look great at five years. If there are any magnums available, put your hand up.

Vivino

Michael Cooper

If you like powerful, bold, savoury Chardonnays, try the authoritative 2020 vintage. Hand-picked from mature vines, it was fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels (60 per cent new). It is already very approachable, with loads of personality. Sturdy, with a fragrant, toasty bouquet (60 per cent new oak), it has rich, ripe stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity, and a complex, finely textured, lasting finish.

Raymond Chan

20/20 pts (100 pts) I could not fault it. It was an exciting moment when I realised... this is my first 20/20 point wine! Brilliant, bright, moderate yellow-gold, slightly lighter on the rim. The nose is voluminous and refined, an elegant bouquet of lemon rind, peach and apricot, entwine with toasty barrels and spice, and custard tarts. Medium-full bodied, calm and integrated flavours of crunchy lemon sherbet, lemon rind, and stonefruit interweave barrel spices, toasted hazelnuts, along with baked custard tarts. The flavours are well-proportioned and refined, multi-layered with punches. The smooth and seamless palate flows with chalky textured mineral, with the perfect amount of acidity and great energy, reminded me of Chassagne Montrachet's fine drops. This is a harmonious, elegant Chardonnay with all the trimmings in perfect proportions. Match with pan-seared foie gras and grilled langoustine over the next 8-10 years. Dry-farmed Mendoza clone handpicked, whole bunch pressed. 100% barrel-fermented to 13.5% alc, 60% new Taransaud French oak. 100% MLF, battonage, on lees for 12 months.