Like the regular Chardonnay, the 2018 Cairnmuir Terrace EBM Chardonnay is a blend of Clone 6 and Mendoza. All barrel-fermented and matured, the EBM, which stands for "extended barrel maturation," spent 18 months in oak. Despite the extra time in wood, the oak makes a more subtle impression here than in the 2017 regular bottling, as the fruit is more opulent, forward and generous. Hints of pencil shavings accent white peaches on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is round and lush, coating the palate with ripe fruit and crushed stone notes and lingering elegantly on the finish.

The ‘EBM’ in the 2008 Cairnmuir Terraces EBM Chardonnay’s name stands for ‘extended barrel maturation’. As it suggests, it gets racked after 12 months and gets an extra 6 months in seasoned oak. Apart from that, it is made in a similar manner to the straight Chardonnay and is also Mendoza clone fruit. Revealing intense peach and pineapple aromas with a slightly creamier/toastier character, there’s a pleasant oatmeal and butter undercurrent. Medium-crisp in the mouth with a medium-full body, it has a pleasant creamy/silkiness caressing the middle palate and the finish is long. Drink it now to 2015. In the heart of Central Otago’s Bannockburn, Steve Green’s vineyards at Carrick may be teenagers, but are already beginning to provide a peek at just what they can produce. There are 22 hectare’s devoted to vines with the plantings taking place in 1994, 1996 and 1997. Jane Docherty has been the winemaker since 2008, taking over from Steve Davies.Owner Steve Green was in the process of negotiating with a new USA importer when I met with him.

The 2005 Cairnmuir Terrace EMB Chardonnay is sourced from vines surrounding the winery from Mendoza clone, matured in 20% new oak for 17 months. An unashamed tropical-scented nose with pineapple, mango and guava, again the new oak is just a little too “obvious,” soft on the entry but just lacking the acidity and tension to make this a top-class New Zealand Chardonnay. Located in Bannockburn, Central Otago, on the Cairnmuir Terraces, on gravel/sandy soil rich in silica, the emphasis here is upon Pinot Noir complemented by Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay. Winemaker Steve Davis has worked in California and Oregon.Importer: Leucadia Cellars & Estates, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 403-5740; fax (415) 399-1045