OTU Estate Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2025

Description

Almond, Oak, Peach

"Beautifully composed and elegantly expressed, the bouquet shows nuances of ripe peach, Gala apple, nougat, and almond meal. It's finely flowing in the mouth, offering succulent fruit flavours with a creamy texture and well-pitched acidity, finishing lingering and smooth. At its best: now to 2029" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2025

Elegant and generous Hawkes Bay Chardonnay. Fresh green apple and stonefruit, soft quince and juicy citrus flavours complement a lemon edge and subtle toasted almond. Immediately appealing on the nose with summer peach, rockmelon, nougat, and roasted almond aromas. Overall, stone fruit dominate with an almond and brioche finish.

Fruit harvested from vineyards in the coastal Ngtarawa growing area has been gently pressed, and then clarified juice was fermented in both stainless tanks, and large 500L French oak barrels (puncheons) for subtle oak character and complexity. Overall time in barrel for this portion was 10 months to further give weight and subtle toasted almond and brioche richness.

70% of the blend went through malolactic fermentation, which provides a discerning softness and texture, as well as development of secondary aromas and flavours. Extended time on lees also helped to build palate weight and complexity to enhance the fresh fruit characters.

Produced from a selection of clones including Mendoza, Clones 15 and 6, has resulted in a delightful array of flavours – from ripe lemon and green apple and crisp stonefruit to toasted almond and spice.