Church Road Chardonnay Hawkes Bay 2014 – $

This is the latest release of a high volume wine with pretentions to be ‘fine’. It often succeeds.

CR does what it implies on the label: presenting a refined wine for a low price. It sets the benchmark below which I no longer wish to stoop. The 2014 vintage in the Bay has been described as ‘fine’, also.

This edition is 13.5% alc. Pale gold colour. Light bouquet of late summer summer stonefruit, & refined. Apricots, peaches, lemon. The nose is what lifts this wine above the bargain-bin bottles.

It is also balanced in the mouth. Notes of stonefruit and lemon. It is linear and stony. Easy drinking, dependable and elegant for the $. You can’t do better for this price.

BTG 3+