2013 Fromm "Clayvin Vineyard" Chardonnay Marlborough

SKU #1252066 96 points Bob Campbell

A concentrated Chardonnay, with strong citrus, grapefruit, mineral and nutty oak flavours. Vibrant, youthful wine with a distinctive chalky thread that is a distinct vineyard character. Taut, bright wine with obvious cellaring potential. I was tempted to recommend that the wine not be opened for at least two years, but as good as I expect it to be with a little bottle age it can certainly be appreciated now. (1/2016)

96 points Sam Kim

This is stunning. Made from their north-facing, high-density (5,000 vines per hectare), clay-rich vineyard in the Brancott district, this is exquisitely styled displaying complex aromas of stone fruit, grapefruit, almond and flint on the nose. The palate is superbly concentrated and focused, yet expansive and generous at the same time, with rich texture and seamlessly integrated acidity. The finish is exceptionally long and engaging. Only three barrels made. At its best: 2016 to 2025.

94 points Raymond Chan

Bright straw-yellow colour with light, lemon-green hues, pale on edge. The bouquet is very tight and refined, with seamlessly interwoven detail, showing white stonefruits, white florals, nutty elements and savoury barrel-ferment nuances, unfolding the faintest suggestion of flinty complexities with lemon-curd MLF elements. This is fresh, youthful and harmoniously balanced. Medium-full bodied, the palate features a deep core with fresh and bright flavours of white stonefruits, white florals and rich nutty layers. The mouthfeel is very fine featured and fine-textured, and follows a fresh line of acidity. The concentration and finesse are beautifully balanced and the winr carries with excellent energy to a long, thirst-quenching, dry-textured, refined finish. This is a stylishly restrained, elegantly concentrated Chardonnay with classical white stonefruit and nutty flavours reminiscent of white burgundy. Serve with seafood and most white meat dishes over the next 5-6 years. Fruit from the ‘Clayvin’ vineyard, Brancott Valley, fully indigenous yeast barrel-fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 16 months in seasoned French oak barriques with no batonnage, but 100% MLF.

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2013 Clayvin Vineyard Chardonnay offers expressive notes of ripe peaches, grapefruit and toasted almonds with hints of struck match, baking bread, butterscotch and crushed stones. Light to medium bodied with a racy acid backbone, it has a great intensity of savory, citrus and stone fruit flavors, finishing with wonderful persistence. 91+ (LPB) (12/2015)

K&L Notes

A tiny production from what many consider to be one of New Zealand's "Grand Cru" sites. Clayvin Vineyard is known mostly for it's Pinot Noir but there is also a small amount of Chardonnay planted on these gentle clay slopes. Only three barrels made, this is world class Chardonnay that is worth the attention of wine enthusiast. Classy stuff that stands toe-to-toe with the best of Burgundy. (Ryan Woodhouse - K&L NZ Wine Buyer)