Stratum Waipara Chardonnay 2011 – $

From the Glasnevin Vineyard at Sherwood Estate, never heard of them. The website has a strong statement from one of the owners for reasons with not entering wine shows. Check it out.

This wine is their second wine, hard to tell…a lighter, flatter style of chardonnay, medium gold colour, with aromatics of pears; there was 20% oak contact and 10 months on lees to build the wine;  less intensity than I might expect from colour but some elegance.

(Pre-tasted prior to taking it to a 50th. Not sure if I would remember my notes if I left it ‘til after)…

…back from the party, and still able to type…was lucky to try a Black Barn Hawkes Bay Syrah 2008 – savoury aroma, hints of rich dark choc, leather, licorice and black plums…fantastic