A blend of Marlborough (75%) and Waipara (25%) fruit, the 2010 Stratum Chardonnay has lovely melon and peach aromas with hints of cream and orange blossom. Medium bodied, crisp and silky in the mouth, it offers a good concentration of pure stone fruit and apple flavors, finishing long. Drink it now to 2014. Sherwood Estate was started 25 years ago by Dayne and Jill Sherwood. They now have 8 vineyards covering 200 acres - 3 in Marlborough and 5 in Waipara. “Waipara has good mid-palate weight compared to Marlborough with lower cropping in general and the tannins tend to be a bit firmer,” Dayne commented during my visit in July 2011. The wines are naturally fermented using indigenous yeast. The “Heritage” range is made purely with Waipara fruit, with these wines in particular aiming at “being different from your average NZ wine”. These guys are doing a commendable job and their prices offer incredible value.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030