"Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, lighter edged. The nose is elegant in proportion and tightly bound with fine and intense aromas of white and yellow stonefruits, along with citrus fruit, melded with delicate mealy complexities, subtle creamy barrel-ferment elements, nutty oak and minerals. This possesses finesse. Medium-full bodied, the palate is fine-featured and taut with intense flavours of white stonefruits interwoven with subtle creamy barrel-ferment elements, mealy nuances, and nutty, smoky oak. The mouthfeel is fresh and lively, enhanced by lacy acidity, and the wine flows along a very fine-textured line, leading to a sustained, nuanced finish. This is a taut and elegant, intensely flavoured Chardonnay with stonefruit, mealy and nutty flavours on a fresh palate of finesse. Serve with grilled and roasted seafood and poultry over the next 4-5 years. Hand-picked Mendoza clone fruit from the ‘Irongate’ vineyard, two-thirds WBP and fully indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months on lees in 20% new French oak barriques, with minimal MLF" Raymond Chan, Raymond Chan Reviews, Apr 2018

"The Irongate range comprises Babich’s top-end releases. The 2016 Irongate Chardonnay comes from the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay and was entirely barrel fermented, seeing 20% new French oak. It’s a ripe, medium to full-bodied wine, with scents and flavors of peach and melon and an overlay of toasted nuts and dried spices" Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, Feb 2018

"The bouquet is fragrant, mealy and slightly smoky; the palate weighty, sweet-fruited and generous, with rich, ripe, grapefruit-like flavours to the fore, finely integrated oak, excellent delicacy and complexity, and a long finish.  A very elegant and harmonious wine, it should be at its best 2019+" Michael Cooper, Apr 2018

"Attractive light straw green colour. Interesting nose with some struck match characters complexed with melon and fig aromas. Deliciously complex palate with lovely primary fruit and lees character flavours. There is elegance and length that sits well with food" Dr Ken Dobler, Sydney International Wine Challenge, Nov 2017

"Peach, nectarine and apricot aromas with a hint of oak. A real stone fruit bomb on the palate with lots of buttery oak and a hint of caramel. A much richer style which is balanced and layered" Meg Brodtmann, Master of Wine, Sydney International Wine Challenge, Nov 2017

"Moderately weighty chardonnay with white peach, citrus, grapefruit and assertive spicy oak flavours. The wine has an appealingly ethereal texture and lengthy finish. Needs a little bottle age but approachable now. Drink 2018 to 2023" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Mar 2018

Peach, apple and sweet oats overlay citrus and spice on the nose with creamy and super smooth seamless entry into a rich and driving palate. Peach and orange rind; cashew with a touch of lemon grass. Great balance power and length.

We have been producing Irongate Chardonnay since 1985 and it has evolved into this richly flavoured, balanced and elegant wine. The vines from this now famous Gimblett Gravels ‘Irongate’ vineyard has select pruning and monitors crop levels closely to ensure excellent flavour concentration in the grapes. Selected parcels of hand harvested fruit were gently whole bunch pressed. The free run was put to French oak, for wild fermentation. After primary ferment the wine was lees stirred to add complexity and build palate weight. The wine spent just under ten months in barrel before assembly and bottling. Recommended cellaring: 3-15 years

Food Pairing: Irongate Chardonnay is an intense, richly flavoured wine and is an ideal match for rich seafood and white meat dishes. Try it with chargrilled squid and lemon butter sauce, or barbecued chicken.