2021 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay

Brand	Sacred Hill Wines
Region	Hawkes Bay
Varietal	Chardonnay
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	14.0%
Vintage	2021
Country	New Zealand

One of the few wines in NZ to be known by just one name - Riflemans - this Chardonnay has been making up for lost time after being declassified in 2011 and 2012 due to poor vintage conditions. Four vintages in a row from 2013 through 2016 have established the label as a modern-day legend, now fast forward to 2021 and it’s looking very smart, it's only a matter of time before the accolades flood in. Nick Picone (ex-Villa Maria) is now leading the winemaking team, watch this space. It seems this 2021 is a blast from the past, a reversion back to the way this wine was made, incredibly rich, with oodles of concentrated fruit with lashings of butter and cream, it's going to be a special pleasure experiencing this wine evolving in your cellar... it has serious potential to be one of the (if not the) most striking wines in your collection.

The essence of peach and mandarin, with lightly smoky oak and complex cashew, nougat, hazelnut, and biscuit aromas.

Massive concentration of flavour with an array of pineapple, peach, nectarine, citrus, caramel, cashew, nougat, and lemon meringue... it’s incredibly layered and complex with a sinfully decadent, but equally refined finish. For all its richness and power, the strong finish is completely fresh with a light grip on the inside of the cheeks. Expect big things from this wine in the cellar through 2028.