2023 Neudorf Rosie's Block Amphora Chardonnay - If you’ll excuse the Burgundy reference, where the Moutere Chardonnay (above) is more Côte d’Or, this Amphora Chardonnay is more Chablis. Both are serious expressions of the Upper Moutere terroir, which does a fine line in elegant Chardonnay. But they are also intriguingly, wonderfully different. Much of this stems from the winemaking – hence the wine’s name. Where the Moutere Chardonnay is barrel fermented, this wine sees no oak. Instead, the ambient-yeast, high-solid fermentation takes place entirely in clay amphora, with 10 months on the gross lees followed by two months on fine lees, with full malolactic fermentation. The basis of the wine is beautifully refreshing, crunchy apple, pear and peach fruit, but giving it textural weight and complexity are layers of yeasty, creamy, stoney, yoghurty flavours from that lees-ageing. Mouth-watering and elegant – yet another utterly winning Chardonnay from this outstanding Nelson producer. - 93 points, Susie Barrie MW & Peter Richards MW
