Elephant Hill Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2023

Description

Hazelnut, Nougat, Oak

"Elegant and complex, the inviting bouquet shows white flesh peach, lemon peel, nougat and hazelnut aromas, followed by a finely textured palate delivering juicy fruit flavours with well-pitched acidity, finishing long and harmonious. Beautifully styled and expressed with finesse. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2024

"Bright, even, pale yellow. The nose is softly full, with aromas of stonefruit, citrus, soft blossom, and a touch of shortbread. Medium-full bodied, the aromas of lemon sherbet, grapefruit, and apricot entwined with delicate spice and shortbread. The acidity is enticing and enlivening, providing tension to a creamy, weighty palate. This Chardonnay is tantalising, contrasting acid tension and a creamy, plushy mouthfee" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Jul 2024

Predominantly coastally grown, cool climate fruit from our SEA vineyard blended with warmer inland fruit from our EARTH vineyard creating the perfect balance and tension of ripeness and roundness, with freshness and bright acidity.

Elephant Hill produces handcrafted, small batch, artisanal wines from a blend of up to three sustainably farmed Hawke's Bay vineyards that each contributes a distinctive elemental character: SEA, EARTH & STONE.

The late summer weather of 2023 forced us to be hyper selective with our fruit in the vineyard at harvest and so it was a year where handpicking really showed its worth. We were able to sort and select only the best quality bunches and berries to bring to the winery. The 2023 vintage produced fresh, bright and elegant white wines.

100% Chardonnay, handpicked and then fermented in a mix of tank and barrel, with partial malolactic and extended time on light lees. 19% aged in new French barrique for 11 months.