• French oak
• Citrus & grapefruit
• Roasted nut & biscuit
• Long dry finish

"Still extremely youthful, this wine was hand-harvested in the Keltern and Kokako vineyards and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques.  Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, smoky bouquet, it is weighty, vigorous and finely structured, with intense, well-ripened stonefruit flavours, biscuity, savoury notes adding complexity and a long, dry finish.  Best drinking 2023+" Michael Cooper, Winestate, Jun 2020

"A commanding example of a New Zealand chardonnay with good pedigree. Funky notes of flint and struck match on the nose with peach, fig and some apricot flowing on into the palate which has wonderful richness and weight. The youthful acidity allows this wine to dance. A fantastic example from go to whoa (and you will)" Cuisine Magazine, Oct 2020

The 2018/2019 growing season has produced a wine encapsulating concentration and restraint. Citrus/grapefruit, roasted nuts and fragrant flinty aromatics combine on a finely styled, textured and seamless palate. Showing harmony and complexity with underlying saline qualities this classic Hawkes Bay Chardonnay will continue to age gracefully over time. Distinctive and age-worthy.

The 2018/2019 growing season and these vineyard sites have produced a complex and finely styled Chardonnay. The growing season was warm and dry with growing degree days at 1,540, well above the long term average. The key ripening months of January and February were climatically faultless. Particular attention to picking date is always critical and none more so than in warm years where natural acidity can drop quickly.

The vineyards were harvested on the 11th and 13th of March at a time of natural balance. These vineyard sites have been identified for their low yielding nature and their ability to produce grapes with concentration, freshness and balance. Great sites and attention to detail in the vineyard across all aspects creates the opportunity to produce high-quality Chardonnay and allows us to take a natural approach in the winery with minimal intervention.