Te Awanga Estate One Off Underground Organic Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $33 Grown out in the rocky soils of what the locals call ‘the RD9’ (or Maraekakaho to the townies), this organic chardonnay comes courtesy of the skilled winemaking wizardry of Rod McDonald. Wait. How rocky are the soils I hear you ask? Ok. So … Read More
Chardonnay
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $25 With its nectarine and peachy creaminess and with cashew characters abound, this new chardonnay from Guillaume Thomas has got instant crowd-appeal. Richly structured, but showing fresh, frisky acidity, it’s a juicy, easy drink with solid stonefruit complexity on the mid-palate and finish. www.maisonnoire.nz
Mahi Single Vineyard Alchemy Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
Mahi Single Vineyard Alchemy Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $39.90 Hands up who loves their chardonnay to unleash smoke signals and roasty, toasty, nutty notes on the nose and palate? Well this new release from Brian Bicknell and his team at Mahi will have you reaching for superlatives in seconds flat. Using fruit sourced from a small … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $18 If you’re looking for a chardonnay boasting peachy punchiness, a lick of creaminess, a sprinkling of nuttiness and citrus all the way home, then you’ve come to the correct cul-de-sac. It’s fresh, feisty and has crowd appeal written all over it. With its whimsical label … Read More
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018 $33 While the team at Matahiwi have been turning out cracking chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay for years now, the Holly South Series is all about celebrating their southern roots. Grown in their ‘Home’ vineyard near the winery, just outside of Masterton, this chardonnay is richly structured, with punchy … Read More
Matahiwi Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Matahiwi Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $18-$22 If I was giving out ribbons and bells for the most consistent, value-for-money-under-the-radar-chardonnay over the last 4 years the Matahiwi would be a veritable morris dancer of a sip. Shiny and new, with tropical fruit up the wazoo, expect an extra lash of peach, rockmelon, guava, grapefruit, toast … Read More
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $39.99 Planted in December 2010, this vineyard gets a little bit of ‘sandblasting’ and occasional ‘deer damage’ from the wind according to Mondo Kopua, vineyard manager. The smokiness comes from a full-solids ferment in barrel 50/50 wild + innoculated. It sits for 10 months in 20% new oak and … Read More
Tohu Whenua Matua Nelson Chardonnay 2017
Tohu Whenua Matua Nelson Chardonnay 2017 $34.99 Mostly Mendoza clone fruit (with some clone 15) grown in the upper Moutere valley, handpicked, aromas of soft grapefruit pith, lemon, poached peach and popcorn. 50/50 wild ferment and innocculation creates a wine that’s fresh and attractively structured in the mouth. Boasting zesty acidity, excellent length of flavour … Read More
Catalina Sounds Sound of White Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
Catalina Sounds Sound of White Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $35 The ‘Sound of White’ vineyard in the Waihopai Valley boasts rich, clay soils and chardonnay just loves that. Fermented wild (with indigenous yeasts) in large oak vessels, the nose has that gorgeous dichotomy of grapefruit, smoked citrus, hints of pineapple and peach, alongside a nutty, smoky, … Read More
Dog Point Marlborough Chardonnay 2016
Dog Point Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $40 Well, I’ll be pounded, egged and covered in crumbs Batman. In fact, any chicken recipe just screams out for the finest chardonnay you can lay your hands on. I was incredibly fortunate to have a bottle of the stunning Dog Point Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 within arms reach as I … Read More