Čuvar Iris Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2023

Description

Oak, Passionfruit, Spice

With his inspiring energy and lifelong dedication to pioneering progression in the wine industry, Čuvar is the vision of legendary wine entrepreneur, Sir George Fistonich. Sir George founded Čuvar Winery to help preserve and nurture the essence of New Zealand fine wine.

A forthright bouquet opens with bursts of candied tropical fruit, layered with warm, comforting notes of fruit crumble. Subtle oak frames the palate, where vibrant acidity and ripe fruit glide together seamlessly. This Chardonnay is a true crowd-pleaser—beautifully balanced, with fruit, oak, acid, and flavour all in perfect harmony.

The 2023 vintage began with adversity as Cyclone Gabrielle struck Hawke’s Bay on February 14th. One of the two vineyards behind this wine was partially flooded, but thanks to the natural slope of the land, we were able to handpick pristine fruit from above the waterline. It was a rewarding moment—finding perfectly ripe grapes after such a turbulent start. Our home block Chardonnay was harvested in two passes, allowing us to capture the full range of flavours and the vibrant acidity this vineyard consistently delivers.

50% of the fruit was tank fermented while the remainder was fermented with indigenous yeast in used barriques. Lees stirred for several months to aid in palate weight and the development of a little complexity. 100% hand-picked & whole bunch pressed.

Food Pairing: Our Iris Chardonnay goes beautifully with caramelised savoury dishes. We are particularly fond of glazed salmon, roast beetroot and goats cheese salad and manuka smoked chicken on freekeh.