Bondar Hope Springs Eternal Chardonnay 2024

"A new wine in this lineup, from Bowyer Ridge vineyard, Lobethal, at over 500m. Three barriques, two older, one second fill, with full mlf. This needs a little time, with winemaking tricks pleasingly absent, but the acidity is coiled, crimping in flavour, of which there is ample, and texture. Cool nectarine, moving into ripeness, lemon, green pear, a stone fruit-kernel nuttiness, fig leaf, faint traces of oak spice. There’s a little creaminess, a crème brûlée note, appealingly fine pithiness and then the acid drive. The length is impressive. Just give this a year or so to bring out its best – it will be interesting to see its arc."