Giaconda vineyard was established by Rick Kinzbrunner, a mechanical engineer who became interested in wine in the early 1970's. Rick then spent the next ten years working in the industry, travelling and following his passion for wine. After a brief stint in New Zealand, he studied at Davis University in California and worked at some of the most respected wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys (namely Stag's Leap, Simi and Matanzas Creek). In Europe he worked for the Moueix group in Bordeaux, co-owner of the fabled Chateau Petrus.

Nantua Range is a blend of premium Giaconda Estate grown and fruit sourced from close neighbouring vineyards. This wine is made using similar methods to the Estate range, with less time in barrel and less new oak. This results in a more fruit-forward style that is ready to drink immediately and does not require long term cellaring. The Nantua Range offers all the Giaconda hallmarks of complexity, palate texture and minerality.

A bountiful offering of yellow peach, meal, hazelnut underpinned by citrus notes and a soupçon of funky characters sitting quietly over the top. Much the same occurs on the palate. Ripe stone fruits supported by delicious spicy oak notes that effortlessly underpin gobs of fruit. A joyous expression of flesh on the bones chardonnay, accompanied by a suite of well integrated acid and phenolics, that keeps this wine in fine shape.

Light-medium yellow, bright colour, with intense lemon-peel, lemon juice and lime-pith, smoky charcuterie and toasted hazelnut aromas, the flavour super-intense and mouth-filling, rich and long with refinement and enormous persistence. Date: Nov 2023; Alcohol: 13.5%; Drink: 2023-2037; Rating: 97 Points; Huon Hooke; The Real Review