WINE REVIEW
IEWA 2024 Still Trophy Winner
I’ve been impressed with Burn Valley’s wines previously, their Solaris in particular, but this Chardonnay has to be one of their best wines to date. What makes this even more impressive is that this is their first still Chardonnay to date. Winemaker Matt Abbey ages the Chardonnay in new and aged Hungarian oak for six months which brings a beautiful texture and character to the wine.
On the nose there’s ripe apple, white peach, nectarine and honeysuckle, and there’s also a lovely smoky oak layer, almost incense-like in its beauty.
While the nose suggests ripe and stone fruit flavours (which the palate follows through on), it’s the energetic acidity combined with the expressive, soft fruit and lightly buttery richness that proves to be incredibly appealing. Yes, there’s some oak spice in there, but it’s well integrated and adds another facet to this accomplished Chardonnay.
What the judges thought: “A substantial, and limey yet super-smooth Chardonnay.”
