2014 Legacy Hawkes Bay Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Since Lisa Perrotti-Brown last reviewed this wine in Issue 228 (December 2016), I think the 2014 Legacy Chardonnay has evolved in a positive way. The sulfide notes she references are still present, but they are better integrated into the wine, coming across as roasted nuttiness rather than struck match per se, and play a nice role in supporting the opulent peach fruit. It's a ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky-textured Chardonnay that retains a sense of poise and wraps up with a bright, crisp finish. Note that this wine is labeled El Legado in the United States.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Bob Campbell MW
More reviews and scores
A very warm, dry vintage. Whole-cluster pressed, ambient ferment in French barriques (40% new). Partial malo. Aged 12 months, partly in barrique and part in tank. pH 3.21, TA 7.77 g/l. A strong aroma of wild ferment – herbal and with some struck match. Very marked with that character on the palate and a slightly sweet/sour contrast between ripe green fruits and the super-crisp acidity. I think this needs a little more time to fully mesh and can't help thinking it might have been better under cork. Very tight and lively with grapefruit flavours on the palate. Long and lively but not yet ready. It needs its creamy less texture to hold the acidity in check. Long, tangy finish. (JH)
The 2014 Legacy Series Chardonnay has struck match/sulfides notes to begin over lemon juice, fresh nectarine and cedar notes, plus a hint of marzipan. Medium-bodied, it offers great intensity with plenty of citrus flavors marked by complimentary yeasty characters and a touch of oak, finishing long and savory.
Apple, greengage and lemon. Loads of fruit purity. Flinty character and very concentrated core fruit shows promise for development in bottle. Ambitious. (RH)