Chardonnay

98+ Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (RobertParker.com)

The Clare Chardonnay is sourced from the Hyde Vineyard on the Napa Valley side of Carneros, planted to Old Wente clone vines that are now 22 years old. The 2015 Chardonnay Clare is a doppelganger for a great Meursault, featuring gloriously seductive pink grapefruit, lemon meringue pie and mandarin peel scents with hints of lime blossoms, fresh ginger, struck match and toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense, with layer upon layer of electrically charged citrus and floral notes, framed by lively acid and a silken texture, finishing very long and very minerally. Wow!!

97+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2015 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard is another steely, concentrated, almost austere wine from the estate that’s going to demand cellaring. Dried herbs, citrus, white flowers, and salty minerality give way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, backward Chardonnay that has awesome potential, yet needs another year of bottle age.

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey

More intense, open-knit and richly textured compared to the 2015 although, both vintages are matched by their exquisite balance. The wines aromatics (honeyed citrus fruits, waves of minerals and a little maritime note) unfold with 20 minutes in a decanter (advised for ultimate satisfaction). The palate is medium to full-bodied, ripe and endlessly long. The play between textured weight and acidity is fantastic – A perfect marriage of cohesion and completeness. Given my experiences with mature Eileen Hardy Chardonnay’s, the ’14 is difficult to pin down to specific flavours. This wine is more to do with sensation as the palate feel is incredible. I do feel the 2015 has the slight edge and will become one of their best vintages over the past three decades however, there is something irresistibly special about the 2014.

90 Points - Antonio Galloni

The highlight in this range from Foxglove, the 2014 Chardonnay packs a serious punch for the money. Bright, juicy and exuberant, the Foxglove Chardonnay will thrill readers looking for a budget-priced Chardonnay. Lemon peel, white flowers and mint meld together in a rich, beautifully layered Chardonnay long on class. Aging in steel and blocked malolactic fermentation keep the flavors bright, but there is no shortage of depth or intensity. This is a fabulous wine, especially considering its modest price.

** Special 12 bottle case price - £11.95 per bottle **

96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey

Hand-picked from the Coal River Valley, East Coast and Derwent Valley, whole bunch-pressed, fermented in French oak from five different coopers. Deep aromas of gunflint and ripe, yellow stone fruits harmoniously fused with layers of mineral complexity and a touch of nutty oak. Medium to full-bodied and a silk-like mouthfeel. The palate is drenched with ripe stone fruits and a density, opulence, energy and drive which is quite extraordinary given the wine’s value. Every grape is assessed for its quality and character, hand-picked with care and thoughtfully considered for its winemaking potential. Each fruit parcel is kept separate, which ensures the core of its flavour components are captured at precisely the right moment. Each batch of wine is matured in the finest oak, resulting in a wine that is deeply impressive. Please do not miss this wine's exhilarating complexity and pedigree. Truly remarkable for the price and quite simply the best Chardonnay I have ever sampled at this price level.  Magnificent. Superb now and enjoy to 2023. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.

96 Points - James Suckling

One of the most complete and complex New Zealand chardonnays on release, this 2013 Bell Hill has beautifully judged reductive flintiness across grapefruit, peach and hazelnut aromas, not to mention lemon curd and wet stones. The palate's built around an arc of succulent and appealing acidity that draws concentrated fruit flavors in the lemon, grapefruit and peach spectrum long and even. A texturally flawless, great wine. Drink now to 2020+.

94 Points - Bob Campbell MW

The first Bilancia Chardonnay I have tasted. Fruit from La Collina vineyard and Bridge Pa Triangle. Indigenous yeast and 15 months in oak without fining or cold stabilisation. Attractive, elegant chardonnay with tight citrus, mineral, struck flint and savoury yeast lees and spicy oak flavours. A classy chardonnay with development potential.