"Bright, light golden-yellow colour with some depth, paler on the rim.  The nose is softly full with aromatic citrus and tropical fruit aromas harmoniously melded with notes of nutty oak and subtle creamy barrel-ferment elements, and a hint of buttery MLF.  The nose is beautifully integrated and elegant in presentation with fragrant detail.  Medium-bodied, the palate has up-front but stylishly proportioned flavours of ripe tropical fruits and yellow stonefruits integrated with a refined layering of creamy oak and nutty lees, and nuanced of butter.  The fruit forms a concentrated core with a degree of roundness and unctuousness, balanced by lacy acidity.  The wine flows along a very smooth line, leading to a lightly nuanced, moderately long finish.  This is an elegantly concentrated, up-front Chardonnay with ripe tropical fruit integrated oak and lees notes on a smooth palate.  Match with poultry and pork over the next 4 years.  Mendoza and clone 15 fruit from Bridge Pa and the Upper Dartmoor, one-third fermented in barrel, one-third in a new 9000 L Taransaud oak vat and one-third in stainless-steel with oak contact to 13.0% alc., the wine undergoing extensive batonnage and 100% MLF" Raymond Chan, Feb 2018

"First vintage did 500 cases, now up to 4200 cases. Lightly oaked Chardonnay with good palate weight. Fresh and expressive with nice citrus and pear fruit, and some cedar, clove and spice hints. Quite savoury and linear. Despite the name it’s not fat, but it has lovely fruit. They don’t sell in grocery and they never discount" Jamie Goode, Oct 2018

This Chardonnay has a rich, enticing aroma of peaches and cream, refreshing citrus notes, along with sweet hazel and cashew nut complexity. Barrel and large oak vat ferment has brought in spicy oak characters, subtle lemon-curd and rich buttery MLF notes. These attributes all combine to give great textural mouthfeel. This wine has a fat and satisfying palate richness and superb flow from the front all the way to the back. There is an underlying poise of natural citrus like acidity, leaving the palate satisfied and refreshed.

Tony Bish is NZ’s only Chardonnay exclusive producer. Such is his love of this variety and its ability to achieve greatness in Hawke’s Bay, his production is anchored entirely around this noble grape. Tony love’s innovation, and is at the leading edge of the modern Chardonnay movement that is bringing more and more consumers back to the joys of this wonderful grape.

Food Pairing: Match with creamy seafood and poultry dishes, and roast pork.