Astrolabe The Farm
Chardonnay
2020
The Farm vineyard is our home block, and the chardonnay here holds particular significance to me because the first wine I made under the name Astrolabe was a chardonnay from this site. I sought out fruit from a wider representation of Marlborough terroir, and this original wine ultimately became my classic Province Marlborough Chardonnay. Over twenty years later, this new release The Farm Chardonnay celebrates the unique character of my vineyard.
The Farm is dry farmed and certified organic. These are the oldest vines we make wine from at Astrolabe. These vines are low cropping, which, combined with dry farming on rich loam soils, provides an excellent concentration of fruit. These chardonnay rows are made up of diverse collection of clones (Mendoza, 15, 2/22 and 6), providing a spread of ripening and harvest dates and a flavour variation throughout the clonal mix.
Hand-picked fruit was whole-cluster pressed, with only the cuvée juice used for this wine. Delicately extracted juice with high retained solids was allowed to undergo spontaneous barrel fermentation, led by the vineyard yeast. Full malolactic conversion occurred as the wine aged for ten months in a mixture of French oak puncheons and barriques.
Simon Waghorn — Winemaker
TASTING NOTES
COLOUR/APPEARANCE
Mid straw gold.
AROMA/BOUQUET
Stonefruit and pineapple with a hint of nutmeg and floral notes of chamomile and jasmine.
PALATE
A delicate and mineral palate with flavours of lemon peel, dried papaya and beeswax.
AGING POTENTIAL
This wine will continue to develop rewarding flavour and bottle complexity with aging.
CHARDONNAY PAIRING
Pair this wine with sashimi, lobster, oysters, artichokes, sole fried in butter, or pasta al limone.
CHARDONNAY SERVING TEMPERATURE
Cool room temperature.
2020 Vintage
95 Points "Excellent"
"From organic, dry-farmed vines. Selected from the best of three puncheons. Rich, flavoursome chardonnay with a nice blend of fruit (peach and apple) and savoury (nutty yeast lees, spicy oak and oyster-shell) flavours. Drink 2022 to 2028." APR 22
Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
The Real Review
96 POINTS “OUTSTANDING”
“A very alluring bouquet with layers of white fl eshed fruits and sweet citrus, a distinctive flinty mineral quality, fragrant spices, farmers market flowers and a fine leesy complexity.
Absolutely fantastic on the palate with flavours that are delicious, seamless and complex. Mouthwatering acidity and fi ne wood tannins deliver a fine mouthfeel with a core of fruit and flavour. The mineral quality is consistent and adds complexity as well as length. Oak is judiciously used ading just enough complexity an structure. An excellenyt example that is good to drink from today, but will be even better form 2023 through 2030+.”
APR 22
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Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
World of Wine: Astrolabe The Farm Chardonnay 2020, Marlborough
4.5 stars "Excellent"
"The 2020 vintage (4.5*) was estate-grown at Astrolabe Farm, at Grovetown, in the lower Wairau Valley, hand-harvested and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak puncheons and barriques. Full, bright lemon/green, with smoky, gunflint aromas, it is full-bodied, with rich, well-ripened stonefruit flavours, generous and complex, gentle acidity and a dry, well-rounded finish. Drink now or cellar."
Michael Cooper New Zealand Wines: Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide
93 Points "OUTSTANDING"
"The 2020 Chardonnay The Farm is not backward in coming forward with its firm, savory style. It may only be medium-bodied at most, yet it has plenty of punch within its core. You'll find appetizing but grunty smoky bacon oak flavors alongside spiced apple fruit and a line of apple-like acidity on the direct and, mouthwatering finish. This is brimming with personality and has a real sense of self, although it might be a bit Marmite-y to some. Drinking window 2022-2029." MAR 22
Rebecca Gibb, Master of Wine
Vinous
5 STARS
“The stylish 2019 vintage was estate-grown at Astrolabe Farm, at Grovetown, in the lower Wairau Valley, hand-harvested and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak puncheons. Bright, light lemon/green, it is a highly fragrant, medium to full-bodied wine, concentrated and youthful, with ripe stone-fruit flavours, a subtle seasoning of biscuity oak, and a very harmonious, creamy-textured finish. Already delicious, it's well worth cellaring to 2022+.”
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Michael Cooper
New Zealand Wines: Michael Coopers Buyer’s Guide 2021