Reviews

Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'A fruit-driven Marlborough of real charm and drink-now appeal. It has stone-fruit aromas with a touch of gooseberry and a hint of butter. The palate is crisp and tangy, with lively Chablis-like structure and fresh acidity. Drink soon.’

BEST IMPORTED WINE 91/100

Huon Hooke, Good Living, Sydney Morning Herald
Australia, May 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'The wine displays tropical citrus flavours on the nose, underpinned with a lingering creamy character that does not overpower the fruit flavours of the wine.’

Liquor Watch, Australia, March 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'This Chardonnay captures the true character of Marlborough with pure, incisive and ripe fruit flavours. Maximum softness, integration and texture is achieved via a combination of barrel and tank fermentation and the stirring of yeast lees. The end result is a delicious chardonnay characterized by concentrated aromas and flavours of ripe citrus and stonefruit, balanced with subtle oak, with a creamy texture to finish.’

Gold Coast Panache, Australia, March 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'This is an assertive, intensely flavoured chardonnay that makes an interesting comparison to its Aussie counterparts. Stone fruit, indeed tropical fruit aromas and flavours pervade this chardy from across the Tasman, which has gained creamy softness and texture from the fermentation process and lees stirring. Freshly shucked oysters please.’

Mount Barker Courier, Australia, February 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'From the highly-acclaimed 2007 New Zealand vintage, this delicious, lively, crisp white shares lemon, pink grapefruit and tropical fruits on both nose and palate. Of medium weight, it will blossom further over the next 2-3 years. Lovely with simple seafood.’

Anthony Bjorn, Grape Expectations, West Australia, February 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2007

'Better known in Australia for sauvignon blanc, this Kiwi company also produces smart chardonnay from its Marlborough vineyards. In this case, attractive citrus, melon and peach characters are invigorated by some crisp acidity, though the palate remains light, subtle and creamy.’

Herald Sun, Melbourne, Australia, February 2008
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2006

'With cool climate fruit from the New Zealand regions best known for Sauvignon Blanc, Oyster Bay has made a crisp, citrusy Chardonnay with a touch of smoky mineral on the nose. Full flavours of apple and tart pear combine with bright acidity and gentle, soft oak, which adds texture and body to the long finish.’

San Francisco Chronicle, U.S., November 2007
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2006

'New Zealand’s Marlborough region is famed for its Sauvignon Blancs, but this Chardonnay is worth attention. It has citrus and crushed almond scents and show zippy ruby grapefruit flavour on the front of the palate. This persists on the middle palate, where it gathers in creamy, white peach characters under laid with cashew-like oak. Flinty acid features at the finish. It would go well with prosciuttto rocket and egg tart, spaghetti in anchovy and garlic sauce or Sri Lankan prawn curry with fresh coconut, samba rice and green mango pickle.’

Uncorked, Newcastle Herald, Australia, May 2007
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2006

'Lovely open, ripe almost perfumed apricot/stone-fruit nose and palate that has crisp, cleansing acid, is of medium weight and lingers well. Delicious drinking now (or the next couple of years) with vegetarian food. High bronze medal standard.’

New Vinous Love Affairs, Swan Magazine
Bjorn Anthony, Australia, 2007
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2006

'A lovely friendly fruit-driven chardie with a lively grapefruit and melon palate. Has some nice flavours of gentle stone fruit with a little creamy richness. Nice wine for the next couple of years, with the fine acid providing a nice clean finish.’

West Australian, Wine by Ray Jordan, March 2007
2006 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

'Citrus and stone fruit dominate the nose and palate of this Kiwi white, with restrained oak and a creamy finish. Enjoy it over the next few years with chicken, pork or richer seafood dishes.’

Labels with Mike Frost, Courier Mail, February 2007
2006 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

'Sitting in the shadow of its hugely successful Sauvignon Blanc sister, this Chardonnay could be easily passed by. That would be unfair. It’s well balanced, crisp and lively, yet has the smooth power that only Chardonnay can provide. It’s ideal as an all-purpose fish white.’

Labels with Mike Frost, Courier Mail, February 2007
2006 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

'Citrus and stone fruit dominate the nose and palate of this Kiwi white, with restrained oak and a creamy finish. Enjoy it over the next few years with chicken, pork or richer seafood dishes.’

Full Bottle by Greg Duncan Powell, Sydney Morning Herald, February 2007
2006 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay - 4.5

'Already well established as a popular brand of Kiwi sauvignon blanc, Oyster Bay has recently made its Chardonnay available in Australia, and it’s a truly delightful drop. Fresh and youthful melon and citrus are to the fore, supported by some tropical fruits and sensitive oak treatment.’

Quaffing by Paddy Kendler, Herald Sun, January 2007
2005 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

'The philosophy of Oyster Bay wines is to produce ‘distinctively regional wines that are elegant and assertive with glorious fruit flavours’. A combination of barrel and tank fermentation and the stirring of lees on oak was used to produce their 2005 Marlborough Chardonnay, resulting in rich citrus, stone fruit and oak flavours.'

‘The World is your Oyster Bay’, Liquor Watch, March 2006
2005 Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

'Good ripe peach aromas, soft and creamy in the mouth with stone fruit and smoky toast flavours, subtle and softly fleshy with a fresh, nicely balanced finish.’

Graeme Phillips, ‘Fruit of the Vine’, Sunday Tasmanian, 19th March 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005

'There's massive savoury grip on the mouth with Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005. Tangy and hugely lush, this is a smoky New World chardonnay with big length. And the warmer the wine gets the more the flavours ooze out.'

Bill Clapperton, ‘Break out the bubbly, The bunch among the bargains’
Living Section, The Scotsman, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005

'This interesting Chardonnay comes from the esteemed Marlborough cool climate region of the South Island of New Zealand. Light straw yellow exhibiting youthfulness. Complex lees like distinguished matchstick aromas initially. Tropical notes, citrus essences with subtle stone fruit soon follows. Lovely smooth creamy oak texture on the palate with refreshing acidity. Lively and fresh, a wine that exhibits both elegance and complexity in its delivery. Have with bbq baby octopus. Drink over 3-4 years.'

Paul Ippolito, Define Magazine, Australia.
March, 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005

'There’s a nice minerally touch to this Marlborough white with melon and citrus fruit, a touch of oak and a splash of creaminess. Try it with fish or chicken dishes now or cellar for a year or two. Try Drinx outlets, The Grape, Kirra Beach Hotel or Chalk & Cheeses bottle shop West End. Rating 89.'

Good Life , The Courier Mail, Australia
March, 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005

'There’s a lot of rubbish coming from Marlborough now, as the crasser Kiwis milk it for all it’s worth. Oyster Bay seems to remain reliable and inexpensive. This is creamy, delicate Chardonnay, modestly oaked, nicely chubby with puppy fat, but dry and velvety in the finish, and fine and fairly elegant overall. 92 points.'

Philip White, The Advertiser, Australia
April 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2004

'Crisp without being overly racy, this mostly tank fermented Chardonnay features bright, citrusy fruit with just hints of oak. A food friendly style at an affordable price. 86 Points.'

Wine Enthusiast, U.S.A. May 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2005

'That cool climate of New Zealand is ideal for Chardonnay, too. This is one of its cheapies but its fresh and lively, with cool stone-fruit flavours and crisp, cleansing acidity.'

Peter Forrestal, The Sunday Times, Australia
April 2006
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay - This is a very smart wine from a producer that's becoming increasingly popular on Australian markets. It's New-Zealand grown and made but won't break the bank. In many ways it's typical of good Tasmanian chardonnays: soft and gentle and ever so elegant in weight and texture. The flavours are a mix of stonefruits and quality French Oak. Well worth seeking out.'

The Examiner, Australia
Friday, 29 April 2005
'Luscious, incisive and consistent, vintage after vintage. Oyster Bay is a chardonnay to re-ignite even the most jaded palate.'

Casandra Alikakos, Vice President, Jonathans of Oakville Fine Dining
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2003 - 'Bloody Good'

Max Allen, Quaff 2005, Australia
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay

A La Carte Magazine, Austria, November 2004
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2003 - 'Oyster Bay has made some incisive roads into the Australian market in recent times. This is an elegant, creamy, fruit-driven cool climate Marlborough Chardonnay with intense stone fruit and citrus flavours and some nice oak characters.'

Illawarra Mercury, Kerry Skinner, 23 June 2004, Australia
'Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2002.
Partly oak-fermented, no malo-lactic, some lees stirring. Very pleasantly fruity wine, alive, tasty and very good value for money with its easy, user-friendly Chardonnay statement.'

Winestate Magazine, Australia, May/June 2004 Issue
'Citrus and melon fruit dominate the nose and palate of this kiwi white. 89 points.'

Mike Frost, Good Life Magazine Courier Mail, 11th May 2004
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2002 - 'This is one of New Zealand's great export success stories and proves that the Marlborough region is not just good for producing good Sauvignon Blanc. The nose is complex with subtle melon and citrus characters. In the mouth the wine has excellent balance of acid and oak influence. The length is persistent with the wine finishing dry and fulfilling.'

BYO Magazine, Summer 03/04, Australia
'Buttery and banana skin with a well balanced and structured quiet cool climate in style' - SW
'Interesting yeasty nose followed through on the palate balanced with lovely fruit, fine oak treatment, interesting' - MP

National Liquor News, Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay 2002