• French oak
• Grapefruit & peach
• Crème brûlée & vanilla
• Tangy acidity

"Laden with quince, grapefruit, white peach and green apple aromatics underpinned by a vibrant mineral flintiness. Taut and youthful with a fine texture and an energetic stream of acidity gliding through to the long lasting finish" Decanter World Wine Awards 2023

"Bright, pale straw yellow, even colour throughout. This has a voluminous bouquet featuring tangerine and grapefruit and its zest interweaved with a layer of spice, flint, cream brulee and nutty elements. Full-bodied, aromas of grapefruit, tangerine and peels enriched by cinnamon, flint, roasted hazelnut and cream brulee. The fruit is concentrated with a depth of flavour and intensity. A creamy, textural grip flows along with tangy acid precision to a long, lingering finish. This Chardonnay shows layers of interest featuring a strong citrus core, flint, cream brulee, cinnamon and hazelnut details" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Feb 2023

"A vibrant and lively bouquet filled with aromas of peaches and new French oak scents, apple and vanilla, pear and lees, some flinty reductive qualities add depth and complexity. Excellent  weight and intensity on the palate with a chewy almost mealy mouthfeel, fruit flavours  are driven by tree and citrus then oak that reflect the bouquet. A youthful wine with plenty of energy and power, dry and quite complex with a medium+ length. Great drinking with food today or best from 2024 through 2029" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Mar 2023

"Limited release chardonnay with tempting lush, white peach, nectarine, vanilla and spicy oak flavours. Accessible and appealing wine that should respond well to a little more bottle age. Moderately intense with a lingering finish" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Feb 2023

Aromatic notes of popcorn, roasted hazelnuts and spice are followed through on the palate along with a subtle flinty character. Silky and luscious with a fine acid drive and good length.

The fruit for this wine was sourced exclusively from a single vineyard in the Lower Waihopai Valley, Marlborough. This vineyard is meticulously cared for by Peter and Anne Reed, who also provide the grapes for our Raptor Chardonnay. The fruit was hand harvested and then gently whole bunch pressed to tank before immediately going to barrel. It spends very little time in tank – only hours, compared to days settling for our other parcels.

The wine then goes through a wild primary fermentation followed with a wild malolactic fermentation, where it is stirred on its lees before completion and then left to settle naturally in barrel for close to 10 months. Winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen describes creating this Chardonnay as a blank canvas. Only the very best barrels from within the batch have been selected. Each barrel adding a layer of complexity to the blend because we have so many components to choose from, adding different aspects of oak influence from the coopers, texture from oak or solids and flavour profile from the fermentations. Creating this special release Chardonnay is less work, more play.