WOAH NANNY!

Central Otago is a land of extremes: it is the coldest, driest part of New Zealand. The seasons are sharply defined:
summers are hot and low in humidity; winter mornings are often misty, the days cloudless and windless and the nights freezing. History-wise, the region first experienced significant numbers of Europeans living in the area with the gold rush of the 1860s. Officially, it wasn’t until a gold miner from France, Jean Desire Feraud, started planting vines and began small-scale wine production and winning medals in Australian wine competitions that eventually lead to the New Zealand government hiring a winemaker to survey the country for commercial wine growing in the early 1900s. This was enough to show that the region had potential, but it wasn’t until the 1950s through to the end of the 1970s that small-scale trial plantings of vines were begun anew by both private individuals and under the auspices of the NZ government. By the 1980s, emboldened by the initial tentative experience gained in previous decades, small-scale commercial plantings were made. The 1990s saw the industry begin to expand rapidly with the focus on quality rather than bulk wine production, and many of today’s great names established themselves at this time. At about 300 metres above sea level, the region’s vineyards are protected from New Zealand’s maritime climate by the high mountains, thus creating the only real true continental climate zone in the country, with large daily and seasonal temperature extremes that are a stark contrast to the more humid, warmer wine regions of the north island. The soils also differ considerably from other wine growing regions and drain easily, helping create the magic and power ingrained in the wines. While there are many stellar producers located in these famous surrounds, one that stands out for value is the Nanny Goat Vineyard – so named after the wild goats that roam the mountainous terrain of the Central Otago, and as a fair reflection of the winery’s determination to succeed, adapt and thrive in the rugged and often extreme climates of Central Otago – much like the surefooted wild goats. Go get ‘em!
NANNY GOAT CENTRAL OTAGO CHARDONNAY 2013 ($35)
The Chardonnay captures the classic varietal characters of citrus and stone fruit alongside the regional hallmark of fine acidity. By extended maturation in large format oak barrels on full yeast lees, they’ve been able to build up the texture and weight of the wine. There’s mouthfilling mid-palate richness and complexity matched alongside the bright acidity and crisp, clean finish. This is a concentrated and well-integrated Chardonnay with soft layers a breadth of flavour and interest – just beautiful.