Bilancia Kaikora Chardonnay 2023

Bilancia are one of the greatest of all NZ producers. They bloody get it, is my main comment.
Quite a funky struck match thing here, though not without the crisp green apple, fresh pineapple and kiwi fruit flavour. It's a bit smoky and quite juicy, lots of tang and energy, almost a mescal thing happening here, though again, juicy flavour carries it long. Intense, with a crisp finish of fine and sappy length. Charismatic and very distinct in personality. I like this very much. Top shelf. Kind of dirty, but in the nicest possible way. Yum. GARY WALSH, Wine Front

Single-vineyard chardonnay sourced from the Kaikora vineyard in ?t?ne. Mid-straw with characters of juicy peach, nectarine and citrus fruits. Hints of spice, struck flint, clover, wildflowers, nougat, almond meal, crushed stone, clotted cream and vanillin oak. Mouth-filling and expansive with just the right volume of struck match, plenty of pure lemon and peachy fruit and a wicked briny flick to its tail that fades slowly, the memories of its passage etching themselves in place for some time. Lovely. DAVE BROOKES, James Halliday's Wine Companion

Intense saline minerality accompanies the grilled Meyer lemon flavours on the powerful, acid-focused palate which slowly reveals cinnamon, pepper and white peach flavours on the sneakily long finish. Taut, serious and ageworthy, this walks a fine line with the reduction but there is no denying the depth of flavour contained within. Brilliantly balanced and very elegant STEPHEN WONG, Real Review