Collaboration Wines Impression White (chardonnay) 2017 $27 Crafted by Julianne Brogden from 100% Mendoza-clone fruit sourced near Havelock North, this is one chardonnay that has elegance written all over it. The oak maturation regime meant subtle handling in older French oak for just 8 months, allowing the delicate white stonefruit to be the hero. Laced … Read More
Chardonnay
Matahiwi Holly South Series Chardonnay 2017
Matahiwi Holly South Series Chardonnay 2017 $33 The Holly South Series Chardonnay is from the southern Chardonnay planting in the ‘home’ vineyard at Matahiwi, just outside of Masterton. The vines were planted back in 2013 but it took 3 years before they were ready to produce enough fruit to make into a wine. So this … Read More
Montsable Languedoc Chardonnay 2015
Montsable Languedoc Chardonnay 2015 $24.95 With its bright lemon-gold hue and lifted grapefruity fragrance, this gorgeous French chardonnay from the Languedoc (long-wah-dock) region had me doing a happy dance as soon as I popped the cork (got your corkscrew handy?). Pronounced ‘mon-sah-blur,’ it’s a gently juicy little beauty that shows pings of pineapple and peach … Read More
Mills Reef Bespoke Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $34.95
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
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