Wither Hills Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 $12.99 (on supermarket special) – $17.99 While previous vintages have shown more generosity in the peach, pineapple and citrus stakes, the 2019 is perfectly passable for that budget, please-the-crowds-at-weddings style that always has a place. To its credit it has a creamy texture and oodles of toasty, nutty notes which … Read More
Chardonnay
Moana Park Estate Growers’ Collection Gisborne Chardonnay 2020
Moana Park Estate Growers’ Collection Gisborne Chardonnay 2020 $25 Gisborne has a reputation for turning out classic, tropical, peachy, creamy styles that wow the crowds, and that’s why the Moana Park have opted to source fruit from the region to work their magic and shepherd it into the bottle. Subtle aromas of pear, peach and … Read More
Wither Hills Single Vineyard Ben Morven Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Wither Hills Single Vineyard Ben Morven Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 $28 Planted 20 years ago, this small-scale, north-facing site has been producing certified organic fruit since conversion in 2009 and certified sensational chardonnay since ages ago. Crafted by winemaker Matt Large, it’s a rich yet elegantly structured, stonefruit-and-smoke-soaked chardonnay which oozes caramelised, toasty spices and a … Read More
Claymore Voodoo Child Clare Valley Chardonnay 2018
Claymore Voodoo Child Clare Valley Chardonnay 2018 $25.99 Cast your eyes past the slightly morbid pin-sticking pic on the label and get your nose stuck inside the glass instead, then you’ll be met with a whiff of lemongrass and white peach, white pepper and lime. Grown in a non-irrigated (dry-farmed) site in Watervale in the … Read More
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $50 I deliberately left this wine for a year from release to taste it because from what I’d read about how it was made, I figured a little time would really elevate things immensely. Sometimes I do actually have ideas that work out for the best because … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $24.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, this coastally-grown chardonnay has unique aromas of seabreezes and custard squares and peach conserve spread on buttered toast with charred edges. It’s creamy, stonefruit saturated and licked with a whisker of white pepper which adds complexity and yumness (should totally be a word) … Read More
Mt Difficulty McFerin Ridge Lowburn Valley Chardonnay 2018
Mt Difficulty McFerin Ridge Lowburn Valley Chardonnay 2018 $37 (approx) From a real rollercoaster of a vintage comes a wine with remarkable poise and composure. From the whiff of white nectarine, grilled grapefruit and baked pineapple, to the taut, stonefruit saturated palate surrounded by cashew and cream notes, it’s a Central Otago chardonnay that’s very … Read More
On Giants’ Shoulders Martinborough Chardonnay 2018
On Giants’ Shoulders Martinborough Chardonnay 2018 $40 Hands up if you just feel like sipping on a slippery, softly-styled, elegant-as-all-getout chardonnay that doesn’t leave you scraping the sawdust and butterscotch out of your mouth after every sip? This 2018 vintage from Braden and Gabrielle Crosby’s tiny, non-irrigated vineyard in Martinborough is wild-fermented, supremely smooth, styled … Read More
Greystone Erin’s Reserve Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2018
Greystone Erin’s Reserve Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2018 $100 Before you ask (and I know you’re about to) this wine is absolutely. worth. every. cent. Expertly crafted by Dom Maxwell, awarded Winemaker of the Year accolades from both Decanter Magazine and Winestate Magazine, the Erin’s Reserve 2018 chardonnay could be, in my opinion, his greatest achievement … Read More
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $30 Winemaker Bryce Edmonds has crafted this chardonnay from hand-picked, Mendoza-clone fruit that was whole-bunch pressed into 33% new oak and the lees were regularly stirred for 10 months to inject creamy complexity. The aromatics scream roast peach and pineapple, while hints of brulee and nougat also sneak through on … Read More