Rock Ferry Chardonnay aka biodynamic heaven

Last week I brought to you a bit of a guide to everything Chardonnay, so I thought it would be fitting to review one this week! This one is a cracker all the way from New Zealand: the Rock Ferry Chardonnay 2017. I haven’t got many reviews of Chardonnay on the blog, and even fewer reviews of wines from New Zealand so I thought it was about time!

This wine is one I picked up from Vinomofo a few boxes ago, and it’s been sitting in my wine fridge just waiting for the perfect moment. It was lucky I had two because my partner committed the cardinal sin of wine and opened up the first bottle without me. Granted it was for friends who wanted white wine, but that’s beside the point! The point is he was lucky that there was a second bottle because it was really delicious!

Going biodynamic with the Rock Ferry Chardonnay

The Rock Ferry Chardonnay 2017 is a certified biodynamic wine. If you’re not sure what that means, I’ve got a handy guide to the difference between this and organic you can read. It is quite difficult to get a wine certified as biodynamic with many processes that need to be adhered to, and a lot of winemaking techniques that let’s be honest I will probably never understand. But what I do know is that Chardonnay is heavily impacted by the winemaking as well as the terroir, so if I were to try a biodynamic wine and notice a difference, I feel Chardonnay is a good starting point.

The Marlborough region is a cooler climate region in New Zealand which is well known for Sauvignon Blanc, but this wine proves it should be known for so much more! Cooler climates are perfect for Chardonnays that are leaner and crisp in their flavours, but this wine has some great smokey flavours that pack a punch and make it so delicious and warming. It may not be for everyone, being a bit more buttery than an unoaked Chardonnay, but it sure is tasty!

Why I loved it

The Rock Ferry Chardonnay 2017 is absolutely delicious. First off, it has a medium body and a long finish. This means it stays deliciously in your mouth long after you’ve taken a sip. Those flavours you will get come firstly from the cooler climate. Think crisp apple, peach and bright, concentrated flavours. Then you get the flavours from oak that Chardonnay is so well known for. Think smokey flavours, butter and vanilla. It has a great texture and a nice complexity with all the flavours taking you on a delicious journey.

If you aren’t normally a fan of Chardonnay that is oaked, I wouldn’t discount this wine. I sometimes find these a bit overpowering myself, although my partner loves a buttery Chardonnay. But this wine was well-balanced and the crisp flavours at the start meant the oak wasn’t too overpowering. As a result, the wine wasn’t overly rich but instead just complex and yummy.

I definitely wasn’t sure what to expect from a biodynamic Chardonnay, but this one was delicious! It made me think I should be looking out for biodynamic wines more often to really taste the difference in the flavours.

What to enjoy it with

The Rock Ferry Chardonnay 2017 is perfect with food. I mean, you could enjoy it without them, but to be honest I think it would be a little too rich. With food though, this wine will come alive!

If you’re pairing it with cheese, blue cheese is going to make best friends with this wine. The richness of the flavours will mellow each other out and really complement one another.

If you’re enjoying this wine at the dinner table, which I strongly suggest, you’ll be safe with the usually Chardonnay pairings. Think white meats, seafood and creamy dishes. However, because of the crispness of this wine, it would also pair beautifully with spicy food.

The final word

Although you can’t get this wine anymore, I’ll definitely be on the hunt for Rock Ferry more often. I loved trying something different in my Chardonnay: being from New Zealand and also biodynamic. It makes me think I’d like to try more biodynamic wines and taste the difference in varieties. Just for the science of course.

If you can get your hands on the Rock Ferry Chardonnay, I’d love to hear what you think. Although it is an oaked Chardonnay, the crisp flavours really added complexity to the wine that I wasn’t expecting. It meant the richness didn’t overwhelm the palate. It also means that you might just like it, whether you hate Chardonnay or not! Who knows, this Marlborough beauty may just surprise you!

P.s. if you haven’t yet, sign up to Vinomofo and get a $25 credit when you use this link! You are welcome.