Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay (New Zealand) Chardonnay Kidnapper’s Vineyard 2010

($22, Kobrand):  Craggy Range is one of New Zealand’s top producers.  They focus on single-vineyard wines and have the uncanny ability to make distinctive wines from a broad range of grape varieties, both white and red.  This is one of them.  This Chardonnay from the Kidnappers Vineyard delivers a beautiful dose of Chablis-like minerality.  Precise and focused, it’s an expressive wine, unencumbered by oakiness or over-ripeness.  It’s a wine you want to drink, not just taste. 93 Michael Apstein Nov 1, 2011