The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2021 $44 If there’s a postcode for Happy Place then this bottle has my digits on it. Crafted by Ben Byrne and Warren Gibson, this rich, incredibly expressive hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, French oak-fermented example showcases deliciously structured citrus and stonefruit through grapefruit and nectarine nuances, a core of caramelised, … Read More
Chardonnay
Jules Taylor Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
Jules Taylor Marlborough Chardonnay 2022 $25 Classic JT chardonnay here, rolling in citrus and saturated with creamy stonefruit notes on the nose and palate. Refreshing, juicy and laced with nougat and caramelised spicy tones, it’s a smooth, soothing, slightly toasty style that’ll win friends and influence people. Grown in Marlborough’s Southern Valley’s sub-region, and crafted … Read More
Westbrook Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Westbrook Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 $35 32Enticing aromas of gently toasted cashew and almonds open up to poached peach and a hint of roast apricot on the nose, while in the mouth it bursts with butterscotch richness, baked apple and a creamy, peachy plushness to finish. In its perfect drinking window now. Westbrook
Elephant Hill Sea Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Elephant Hill Sea Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $59 Wow! You definitely know this has come from an oceanfront vineyard (Te Awanga) because the vein of salinity is strong in this one. I love it! Super-juicy, beautiful oak handling, silky, succulent and crammed with grapefruit it’s 88% clone 15 and 22% clone 95 handpicked, whole bunch … Read More
Sorrell The Wrekin Marlborough Chardonnay 2021
Sorrell The Wrekin Marlborough Chardonnay 2021 $tbc Where has this chardonnay been all my life? Ultra-fresh and absolutely fanging with gorgeous grilled grapefruit, white peach, Pacific Rose apple and complex, caramelised oak characters on the nose and palate – it’ll perk up even the most jaded tastebuds. From the certified organic, Wrekin vineyard, tucked away … Read More
I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection
I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection. Twelve wines whittled down from dozens submitted that were judged by Cameron Douglas MS to reflect the absolute finest examples created from the 2020 vintage from the Hawke’s Bay region. I love that there’s a healthy sub-regional spread in terms of where they were grown and … Read More
Trinity Hill ‘125 Gimblett’ Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020
Trinity Hill ‘125 Gimblett’ Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 $80 Golden in the glass and scented with smoky French oak, scorched cashew and brazil nut notes, grilled grapefruit and hints of baked apricot and citrus complexity, this chardonnay is ultra-enticing from the first sniff. Plus delicious depth and mineral layers coexist with a creamy, citrus-centric core, … Read More
Swift Wines Bridge Pa Triangle Whole Bunch Chardonnay 2021
Swift Wines Bridge Pa Triangle Whole Bunch Chardonnay 2021 $36 Cardoness Vineyard in Hawke’s Bay’s Bridge Pa Triangle is in conversion to organics and it’s where winemaker Lauren Swift has sourced the Clone 15 and Mendoza fruit from for this richly-styled, fresh-as-a-daisy chardonnay. With aromas of caramelised oak, fresh popcorn, grilled grapefruit and edged with … Read More
A Little Maison Noire Magic – BayBuzz Magazine Christmas Issue 2022
Santé to Maison Noire by Yvonne LorkinNovember 29, 2022 Photo: Florence Charvin “My perfect Christmas present?” asks artist Esther Smith. “Easy. A trailer load of mulch.” Not exactly what I was expecting when asking Esther and her husband, winemaker Guillaume Thomas of Maison Noire wines, what their Christmas wishes were for 2022. But as I quickly … Read More
Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020
Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 $22 Gloriously golden in the glass, this chardonnay comes from one of the greatest vintages in Hawke’s Bay’s wine memory, 2020. And with winemaking know-how dating back to 1985, it’s no surprise that the Paskers have created chardonnay erupting with creamy, peachy intensity and glistening with glints of grapefruit in … Read More