2016 Anthony Joseph Vidal 1888 Hawke's Bay Chardonnay

Brand	Vidal Estate
Region	Hawkes Bay
Varietal	Chardonnay
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	13.5%
Vintage	2016
Country	New Zealand

Only the 2nd release of this Prestige Chardonnay by Vidal winemaker and NZ winemaker of the year... Hugh Crichton. It sits above their outstanding Legacy Chardonnay... itself one of NZ’s finest Chardonnays. The wine is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Joseph Vidal who emigrated to NZ from his native Spain in 1888. 2016 sits with 2014 & 2010 as the finest Hawkes Bay Chardonnay vintages of this millennium, presenting Hugh with fruit quality and balance that made his decision easy to release the 2nd 1888 Chardonnay. Extremely low fruit yields were harvested from the exceptional Kokako vineyard in the Ohiti Valley followed by hand selection, whole bunch pressing and indigenous yeast fermentation. Texture and richness were built through extensive lees stirring and ageing in a mix of 33% new, plus 1 & 2 year old French oak barriques. Stunning Chardonnay made to Grand Cru standards and in very small amounts. It’s deeply layered and complex and should age for up to two decades under screwcap. We certainly recommend storing it for 7-years before opening your first bottle. Absolutely merits its price and is significantly underpriced compared to like quality international Chardonnay. Although 2017 & 2018 vintages were very good... no 1888 was made. Two releases from four vintages... underpins 1888’s ruthless quality standards. Drink with fatty white meat, poultry and sea foods for the best food match.

Intense, haunting aromas of roasted hazelnut, toasty French oak, gunflint, fresh cream, stone and citrus fruits.

Richly fruited, textural, concentrated Chardonnay layered with nutty, toasty, flint and pastry complexities. The fruit purity stands out in the creamy, fresh and driven finish. Hard to imagine Chardonnay being more complete and rewarding... best summed up as hedonism in a bottle. It will take until 2023 to give you a taste of its real potential and continue to reward you through 2036 if properly stored. It is very rare the opportunity comes along to taste a Chardonnay with a price tag of $100+ but today was the day and how lucky were we. From the spectacular 2016 vintage and this wine is still very much a baby and in fact it needs a minimum of 10 years+ in the bottle before even attempting a tasting. Not usual behaviour but we decanted this Chardonnay, and the results were spellbinding, confirming the quality is outstanding and has the pedigree and class to age. It really should carry a warming, ‘do not open before 2032’, rather lose it in a temperature-controlled cellar for 10 years and reap the rewards.