2013 Ch-Ch-Cheap Chardys 2013 Cont’d – $

Another round of value Chardonnays wines from the 2013 vintage…

Mudhouse Marlborough Chardonnay 2013 – $

Very pale. 13%. Citrus dominates the nose. The flavours are clean and ripe and approachable, with touch of vanilla. Grapefuit acidity and green apple. Lacking a bit of character. Nothing particularly memorable. 3

Tony Bish Fat ‘N Sassy Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2013 – $$

Pale yellow. 13.5%. Peaches, malo and oak nose; fresh. Ripe full fruit in the mouth; creaminess; butterscotch on the middle palate. This is more robust than other value ‘13s I have tasted so far. An attempt at the fatter style for a leaner price. I do see some bitterness at the finish; is this owing to less extract or is it a bit young yet? 3+

Sacred Hill Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2013 – $

This is Tony Bish’s standard Chardonnay offering out of Sacred Hill – producers of the wonderful Rifleman Chardonnay.

This is a white gold colour. 13%. Warm bouquet of tropical mangoes, peaches and citrus. Primary in the mouth. Ripe and creamy explosion of fruit to taste. Medium weight. Quite sweet. Vanilla from the French oak. Creaminess from the malolactic fermentation and lees stirring.

A bold style of chardonnay, fruit forward, with some power. There is weight in the mid-palate. I like it better than previous vintages. 3+

Hmmm…so having tried a few of the cheaper wines of the vintage now, I have to say the clear winner so far, for taste and value, is the Stoneleigh Marlborough Chardonnay 2013. Picking this up at your local supermarket at $12 or so marks outstanding value. I will be putting a brace of these away in the Pool Room…