Tony Bish Zen Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2019 GIFT BOX

Raymond Chan

Bright, pale yellow-gold with some depth, faintly lighter edged. The bouquet is voluminous with purity, aromas of roasted hazelnuts, barrel spice, melded with yellow peaches, citrus, brioche and a wildflower, chamomile underlay. Medium-full bodied, the palate is well-rounded and smooth, aromas of lemon curd, yellow peaches, have an elegant core, adorned by wildflower, chamomile underlay. Restrained roasted hazelnuts, barrel spices grow in volume, added structure to the well-rounded palate, the subtle spices and pure fruit intensity lead to an elegant, lengthy, lingering finish. The palate is buttery in the most elegant way, along a chalky mineral line; buoyant acidity flow smoothly and seamlessly. This wine has elegance yet has the rawness and authenticity that intrigues and blow-my-mind. This is a unique and authentic Chardonnay in the purest and most elegant form, with strength and intensity. Match with squid-ink risotto and crayfish over the next 6-8 years. The third release, single-vineyard Skeetfield block, Mendoza clone. Handpicked, fermented in French oak ovum egg and new French oak barriques to 13.5%. Full MLF. 19,5 pts (98 pts)

Wine Orbit

Exquisitely fine and poised, the wine shows ripe stone fruit, lemon peel, roasted hazelnut and subtle savoury notes on the nose. It's superbly concentrated and finely textured on the palate, delivering layers of delicate texture and complex flavours, leading to a prolonged sophisticated finish.

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Complex, delicate, mysterious and captivating with aromas of pure, ripe and fresh orchard fruits, citrus then peach, apple then quince. A lees complexity simmers throughout the bouquet with a sense of earth and mineral weaving through and getting stronger as the wine opens up. Equally complex, youthful and captivating on the palate - a wine as much about texture as it is flavour and origin. The taste of Mendoza clone is powerful with a tangerine and lemon peach core. The oak is quiet and soft with lees adding texture, shape and form. Long finish, complex and special.

The Real Review

Fermented and matured in a French, oak egg known as an Ovum. Richly-textured chardonnay with peaches and cream, toasted nut and bread crust flavours supported by a backbone of tangy acidity.

Gourmet Traveller

Chardonnay aged in a French oak egg-shaped vessel. Made from dry-farmed Mendoza clone grown in the Skeetfield vineyard. Elegant rather than opulent with peach, white flowers, ginger and biscuit-like flavours.

Michael Cooper

This powerful, distinctive wine is made in an 'ovum' – an egg-shaped French oak barrel which creates unique convection currents, keeping the wine's yeast lees in suspension. Harvested from mature vines in the Skeetfield Vineyard, at Fernhill, it is fermented with indigenous yeasts, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The third 2019 vintage (5*) is bright, light lemon/green, with a very fragrant, complex bouquet. Mouthfilling and savoury, it has vibrant, deep, well-ripened stonefruit and grapefruit flavours, mealy and biscuity notes adding complexity, and excellent delicacy and length. Likely to be long-lived…

Vivino

Joelle Thomson

TEST WINNER. This vintage of Zen is the best yet with its full-bodied, creamy, complex new world take on one of the great classic wines of the world. Winemaker Tony Bish uses grapes from the highly rated Skeetfield Vineyard in Hawke’s Bay and ages the wine in a Taransaud oak ovum, a large egg-shaped fermentation vessel, which adds weight and density with a full-bodied, savoury edge and a smooth mouth feel. This is one of the highest priced and undoubtedly one of the highest quality Chardonnays in New Zealand.