2022 Terra Sancta Riverblock Bannockburn Chardonnay, Central Otago

Fruit-focused wine with ginger, apricot, vanilla, oyster shell, floral yeast lees and a toasty, savoury character that is very appealing. Accessible and attractive now with potential to develop well with bottle age. 17 Dec 2023 Drink 2023–2028

95 points Bob Campbell MW therealreview.com

Terra Sancta Riverblock Bannockburn Chardonnay from Central Otago is a beautifully carved and deeply expressive white wine from one of the region’s most characterful sites. The Riverblock vines sit right beside the Kawarau River, where schist, gravel and wind shaped soils create Chardonnay with remarkable purity, tension and mineral drive. Bannockburn is known for producing some of Central Otago’s most textural and layered whites, and Riverblock is one of the estate’s standout parcels thanks to its warm days, cold nights and proximity to the river, which moderates ripening and sharpens acidity.

The fruit is hand picked and whole bunch pressed to retain delicacy. Native yeast fermentation unfolds in French oak, mostly seasoned, which brings subtle savoury detail rather than overt toastiness. Lees contact adds shape and gentle creaminess, while the absence of heavy winemaking tricks keeps the Riverblock signature intact: flinty, cool edged and beautifully balanced. Terra Sancta has always aimed for elegance over power, and this wine is an excellent example of that philosophy in motion.

Aromatically it feels bright and quietly complex, opening with lemon zest, white peach, grapefruit pith and nashi pear. Beneath the fruit lie threads of wet stone, crushed quartz, almond skin and faint white florals. With more air, the wine reveals deeper notes of brioche, fennel pollen, hazelnut and a whisper of flint struck minerality that hints at its schist rich soils.

On the palate, the wine moves with precision. Citrus and stone fruit glide over a fine, chalky texture, held together by vibrant acidity and a beautifully controlled sense of weight. Flavours of lemon curd, peach skin, pear and subtle spice weave through a creamy but focused mid palate shaped by time on lees. A saline, river stone like note brings freshness, pushing the wine toward a long, clean and beautifully composed finish marked by citrus brightness and quiet savoury depth. Five to eight years in the cellar will add honeyed, nutty complexity.

At the table, it shines with dishes that echo its balance and finesse: roast chicken with herbs, seared scallops, grilled whiting, truffle gnocchi, creamy mushroom dishes, goat cheese, sushi or pasta dressed with lemon and butter. The wine’s tension and textural polish make it incredibly adaptable.