"Bright straw-yellow colour with light green-gold hues, lighter edged.  The nose is full and voluminous with soft and well-packed aromas of white stonefruits and citrus fruit melded with a layer of nutty notes and a thread of flinty, reductive complexities, unfolding smoke and minerals.  Medium-full bodied, the palate has mouthfilling flavours of white stonefruits and citrus fruit with flinty reduction.  The wine has good breadth and depth and the flavours flow positively along a fine-textured line growing in fullness, with lacy acidity lending freshness and energy. Notes of toast and minerals emerge to add detail as the wine leads to a softly full, even finish.  This is a mouthfilling Chardonnay with stonefruit, smoke, flinty and minerals with light textures and fresh acidity. Match with most white meat dishes over the next 3-4 years.  Fruit predominantly from the ‘Keltern’, ‘Kokako’ and ‘Lyons’ vineyards, fully barrel-fermented, partially by indigenous yeasts to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months on lees in 20% new French oak barriques, the wine undergoing partial MLF" Raymond Chan, Sep 2018

Fruit for this wine was produced from premium Hawkes Bay vineyards, predominantly Keltern, Kokako, and Lyons. The soil type and climate of each site have contributed particular characters to the final wine. The warm summer of 2017 allowed early picking at good flavour ripeness. Picking decisions were based on flavour and natural acid balance allowing the wines to express intensity and purity of fruit with fine definition and length on the palate.

Juices from gently pressed grapes were partially settled before being racked with light lees to French oak barriques (20% new) for natural and inoculated fermentation. Following this, some batches went through natural malolactic fermentation to balance out the natural acidity. Oak barrels were selected for their subtle flavour and aroma profile, adding complexity gained from 10 months maturation on lees. Sensitive winemaking has allowed site and season to be reflected, supporting the defined, complex and elegant style of this wine. Best enjoyed 1-4 Years from Vintage.

Food Pairing: Fish, shellfish, poultry and fresh seasonal