Elephant Hill, Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand 2016

A stand-out Kiwi Chardonnay, elegant, rich and textured, from the estate’s original Te Awanga vineyard. Wild yeast and oak fermentation and maturation has given nutty creaminess and sweet oak spice to join apple, confit lemon and nectarine flavours. Will age well.

Hawke’s Bay enjoyed a warm, dry summer in 2016 followed by perfect autumn weather. This whole-bunch-pressed Chardonnay is wild-yeast fermented in oak barrels (25% new) and malolactic fermentation is inhibited so the lingering hint of creaminess comes from 11 months on the lees in barrel. It has a flinty nose, then peach, pear and subtle tropical flavours. A classy wine with a firm chalky bite and lick of butter on the finish.