Rapaura Springs Bouldevines Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 $36 There are some golden-zones for chardonnay in Marlborough, and the Omaka Valley is right at the top of that list. Its soils can turn out intensely concentrated examples and this is no exception. Surging with roast nectarine, pineapple and melon-mashed magic, fresh, beautifully caramelised oak, creamy complexity … Read More
Chardonnay
The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2020
The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2020 $29 If you thought the Bay of Islands was simply a breeding ground for big snapper and crazy kingi’s, then you’ll be overjoyed to know that it’s fast becoming the cradle of some of the nation’s most sensational chardonnay too. With its beautifully balanced nectarine, grapefruit and … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2021
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2021 $39 Ok, so looking at the 2019, 2020 and 2021 examples, of Trinity Hill’s chardonnay I think, “what have they been feeding the winemakers?” Because there’s something seriously deliciously evil going on. Especially in this vintage. Is it the popcorn drizzled with grapefruit curd? The roast peach and baked … Read More
The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2020
The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2020 $48 Crafted by multi-talented Ben Byrne, from fruit grown on the gentle slopes of the Purerua Peninsula, overlooking Rangihoua Bay, this new vintage of The Landing’s flagship chardonnay is the product of an absolutely stunning set of seasons. Scented with cinnamon and butter toast drizzled with grapefruit juice … Read More
Te Mata Elston Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Te Mata Elston Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $37-$43 There’s a reason why 2020 will go down as one of the greatest Hawke’s Bay vintages of the century. Not just that somehow during a nationwide lockdown and under incredibly tricky, worker safety conditions, did the wines even get made – but the ripening season was a … Read More
St Pauli Vineyard Moutere Chardonnay 2020
St Pauli Vineyard Moutere Chardonnay 2020 $23 This tiny property is owned by Robyn Reid (a midwife) and her husband Gareth (a roofer), ex-pats from the UK, who opted to scoot to the other side of the world in 2017 to have babies and immerse themselves in the much more stressful life of learning to … Read More
Kokako Farms Awen Ohiti Valley Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Kokako Farms Awen Ohiti Valley Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $55 Winemaker Bruce Nimon has crafted a beautifully toasty, citrus-centric superstar chardonnay right here. A wine absolutely bursting with stylish stonefruit and showing exactly why the Ohiti Valley is one of the most exciting subregions in the Bay. True finesse and showing a textural mid-palate with … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Chardonnay 2019
Pegasus Bay Waipara Chardonnay 2019 $44 Who needs the Commonwealth Games when you’ve already got a glass full of gold right here? An absolute Southern icon chardonnay, this wine roars with smoked apricot and juicy nectarine niceness while the palate is generously layered with stonefruit and grapefruit intensity. It’s beautifully balanced, and boasts slightly charred … Read More
Squawking Magpie Terraces and Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
Squawking Magpie Terraces and Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $25 A brand new wine from the team at Squawking Magpie, this is an ultra-creamy, dreamy new style of chardonnay with a fine line of oak and a cloak of ripe nectarine and gentle grapefruit, this chardonnay will bring happiness and joy all the way down … Read More
Carrick Cairnmuir Terraces EBM Organic Central Otago Chardonnay 2019
Carrick Cairnmuir Terraces EBM Organic Central Otago Chardonnay 2019 $47 EBM stands for ‘extended barrel maturation’ and it’s the name given to a blend selected from barrels that have the greatest density and length of flavour, according to the directive set by Carrick’s original winemaker Steve Davies. The wine then gets extended time in barrel … Read More