"A gorgeous complex offering; the engaging bouquet shows rockmelon, grapefruit, roasted cashew and vanilla characters with a touch of gunsmoke. The palate delivers excellent weight and concentration, while remaining elegant and refined. It is delightfully flavoursome with deep savoury nuances. At its best: now to 2021" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2018

"Bright, even, straw-yellow colour with slight green-gold hues, paler on the edge. The nose is elegant in proportion with fresh aromas of yellow stonefruits and hints of citrus fruit with mealy elements, melded with subtle creamy barrel-ferment elements, nutty oak and a little lemon-curd MLF. This is refreshing with clarity of fruit expression alongside the inputs. Medium-bodied, the palate has fresh, lively and up-front flavours of white and yellow stonefruits entwined with creamy and nutty oak, mealy nuances and some harmoniously interwoven lemon-curd MLF. The fruit forms a tight, well-concentrated core and the palate is enlivened by brisk, racy acidity, The wine flows along a fine-textured line, leading to a sweet-fruited, zesty finish with good length. This is a bright and lively, up-front Chardonnay with stonefruit, mealy and nutty flavours along with MLF elements on a crisp, racy palate. Match with grilled and roasted seafood or poultry dishes over the next 4 years. A blend of clones 121, 809 and 548, from the company’s Maraekakaho vineyard, WBP and fully barrel-fermented, partially with indigenous yeasts to 12.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 25% new oak, undergoing some batonnage and 75% MLF" Raymond Chan, Jun 2018

The 'One Off' range is a selection of wines that don't quite fit with the others in the 'hood. The idea behind it is that Rod McDonalad winemakers can make, blend and bottle it with a healthy disregard for brand families, consumer research and marketing fundamentals.  And all becuase it's fun.  The only catch is that it's a one off...when it's gone, it's gone. There'll never be another!

At Rod McDonald they are always asking themselves "How do you make something you love, better?", looking for ways to make their wines better. Sometimes that happens in the winery, but most often, it’s because they grow better grapes. Part of the 'One Off' gig is following little vineyard projects through to the bottle and giving you the chance to try them… like this one.

Rod McDonald made this Chardonnay like they make most of their Chardonnay. Whole bunch pressed grapes, fermented in French oak, aged on lees with a little stirring and a lot of care. This is the first harvest of three new Chardonnay selections inspirationally called 121, 809 and 548. When the vines get a little bigger and they have more fruit to play with, if they taste different and good enough, they ay release them individually. Until then you will just have to wait  and see.