Vavasour Awatere Valley Chardonnay 2025

Description

Melon, Oak, Oatmeal

"Complex and inviting, the bouquet presents golden peach, mango, lemon zest, vanilla, and roasted hazelnut aromas with a hint of biscotti. The palate offers excellent weight and a creamy flow, wonderfully framed by silky texture and beautifully pitched acidity, making it harmonious and flavoursome with a lingering, delectable finish. At its best: now to 2031" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Apr 2026

White peach and citrus blossom are layered with toasty brioche and the distinct salinity of the Awatere Valley. Nectarine and ripe orchard fruits flow over rich minerality and subtle flinty oak, while a creamy texture and precise acidity lead to a refined, elegant finish.

This stonier, drier, cooler & windier pocket of Marlborough, the Awatere Valley, conspires to produce distinctive, complex & intriguing wines. Marquee sites in the lower Awatere Valley, are noteworthy for their wide diurnal temperature swings, contributing to strong personality and incredible balance in the wines. Soils are low in fertility with stones and pebbles mixed with clay and loam. The rainfall ranges from 279-406 millimeters (11-16 inches) a year, very arid by any measure.

The 2025 Marlborough vintage has delivered strong wines across the region. A warm spring and excellent flowering led to healthy yields, while a cooler January slowed ripening and allowed for extended hang time. Warm days and cool nights in February helped develop vibrant flavours while retaining freshness and natural acidity. Chardonnay is a standout for 2025, showing excellent concentration and ageing potential. Overall, the vintage has produced balanced wines with purity, freshness, and strong regional character.

Food Pairing: Pairs well with Roasted vegetables, creamy seafood or pasta dishes and cheese of any description.