Great chardonnay can come from all corners of our fair country and these three are single and ready for love…
Chard Farm Judge & Jury Central Otago Chardonnay 2015 $39
Most people carefully pick their way along the vertigo-inducing driveway leading to Chard Farm, praying for a punch-in-the-face pinot noir to calm their nerves. Whereas I think the perilous journey is more than well-rewarded with this outstanding chardonnay instead. Grown on their Lowburn vineyard, the fruit produces a solid mineral and spice backbone to stitch grapefruit, roast nectarine, cashew and toast notes together. Only very small amounts were made and it’s gorgeous to drink with classic crab cakes.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
Matahiwi Estate Wairarapa Chardonnay 2016 $23
I really love the bang and citrus tang of this wine. With nectarine and grapefruity intensity on the nose, and a squeak of smoke on the finish. Fresh, taut and citrusy, it’s exactly my kind of chardonnay. High winds around flowering time across the Wairarapa naturally keeping the yields in check, meaning those vines pour their energy into just a few small bunches, really concentrating those flavours.
I’d sip this with a bowl of chilled potato and leek soup.
www.matahiwi.co.nz
Framingham Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 $25
For the longest time I was such a vehement fan of Framingham’s rieslings that I forgot they were brilliant at producing pretty much every other variety under the sun too. Take this chardonnay for example. Gorgeous grapefruit, pineapple and peach layers buoy a backbone of creamy, brulee, cashew and panforte characters on the palate. Grown in a heat trap on the Wairau plains, this is ripe, ready-for-action chardonnay if ever there was one. Enjoy with oozing triple cream brie…
