Carrick EBM Chardonnay, skillfully made by Rosie Menzies and team at Carrick’s organic estate in Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand. “EBM” denotes Extended Barrel Maturation: hand-picked, wild-fermented Chardonnay (clones Mendoza, 6, 548) matured for 18 months in French oak barriques on gross lees before blending and bottling. Pale straw with green highlights, the bouquet is compelling-peach, quince, floral blossom, toast and spice. The palate is seamless and powerful, revealing satin-cream texture, stone fruit, flinty seam and fine tannins, finishing with minerality and grace. Awarded 95 points by Cameron Douglas MS, this is a refined, cellar-worthy Chardonnay of texture, depth and site expression.