Mills Reef Bespoke Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $34.95 I LOVE the burst of grilled grapefruit, poached peach, hints of struck match and tangy, smoky notes on the nose and a lovely complex, juicy, cashew and bacony loveliness. Fresh and fabulously funky, it’s a lipsmackingly good example. The team at Mills Reef are chardonnay nuts and it … Read More
Chardonnay
Crossroads Milestone Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $17.50
Crossroads Milestone Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $17.50 A tangy, taut, trop-fest is about to hurl itself across your tastebuds. Think pineapple, mango, a lick of lemon and a grapefruity kick brings the citrus into gear which holds all the flavours buoyant in the mouth. A layer of toasted crumpet character indicates nicely managed oak … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Sawcut Chardonnay 2015 $30 (4.5 stars)
Sourced from a vineyard located at the entrance to the limestone Sawcut Gorge in the south-of-Marlborough Ure Valley, this smart chardonnay from the team at Saint Clair is an absolute cracker. I don’t know how they could have crammed any more flavour into this bottle if they tried. Citrus-stacked, it hurls zesty minerality at you … Read More
Nockies Palette Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $36 (5stars)
Nockies Palette Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $36 (5stars) Butterscotch alert! I love the classic roasty, toasty, buttered crumpet character in this wine. Those flavours merge with grilled grapefruit, pineapple, a whiff of smoked stonefruit and spice. The acidity is fresh and frisky and absolutely forces the flavour to extremes. I love the complexity of this … Read More
Obsidian Reserve Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2017 $48 (5 stars)
The stylish, chablis-like elegance of this wine made it an absolute showstopper for me. I love the purity of fruit, intense citrus and minerality on the mid-palate, its peachy backbone and the dusting of subtle nutty notes on the finish. It’s a beautifully balanced example that will leave you shaking your head in a state … Read More
Le Pont Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $39.99 4.5 stars
Le Pont Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $39.99 (4.5 stars) Old school chardonnay fans ahoy! Named in Tribute to the pioneering Irwin family who bought the first Mendoza clone chardonnay to Gisborne in the 1970’s, they went on to found a French restaurant called Le Pont. A combination of French and American oak barrels has injected a … Read More
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Chardonnay 2017 $35 (5 stars)
Aroma-wise this wine absolutely rocks the house with grilled grapefruit, biscuity characters and beautiful creme caramel characters. Chock full of ripe stonefruit, yet it’s restrained, creamy and supremely elegant to drink. It’s an incredibly stylish wine, softly spiced and boasting cashew and brulee layers on the finish. Just gorgeous! www.tekanoestate.com
San Pedro Gato Negro Valle Central Chardonnay 2014 $12.99
This chardonnay is tasting a tad tired and is rather dry and mean-spirited in the glass. Lacking fruit or charm of any description, it has an odd, butyric acid edge to it (which is a polite way of saying it smells a bit like baby vom). Avoid. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Bodega Tamari Mendoza Chardonnay 2015 $17.99
‘Tamari’ means ‘to be passionate in Huarpe, the native language of the Mendoza region in Argentina. This chardonnay is on the leaner side, mineral-driven, nutty and has a squeak of crushed seashell and salt about it. There’s a creamy element adding some complexity. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Whistling Buoy
I’ve sipped my way through the new Whistling Buoy releases from Canterbury and they’re rather snazzy… Whistling Buoy Kokolo Vineyard Canterbury Pinot Noir 2016 $36 (5 stars) Wow. Here’s one ultra-juicy, exotically-scented, super-charged pinot noir from under the southern sun. Kokolo is a vineyard on a sheltered site at the head of Lyttleton and clearly … Read More