This selection encompasses Central, Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay offerings as this is a grape variety that has found itself at home in every wine region across the length and breadth of the country. I may have been a bit stingy with a couple of my scores, so forgive me for that.
McArthur Ridge Springvale Alexandra Chardonnay
Rating Excellent
Rather elegant,
stonefruit, citrus, a
smoky backdrop,
spices and fine oak
seasoning, peach
later. Schisty nuances.
Layers of fruit in the
mouth, stonefruit, then
apple, peach, freshly
squeezed lime too.
Nice balance and
integration, some
chewy tannins adding
to the texture, with a
long, cool, minerally-
tinged finish. Young
but already drinking
very well.
2022 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay
Rating Excellent to outstanding
Begins with fresh
stonefruit notes and
spice, shifting to tropical,
white flowers and a hint
of butterscotch/oak.
Delightful richness on
entry yet with poise and
balance, again the
tropical fruits, oatmeal,
wisps of oak seasoning
with fresh, citrusy acidity
bring this to a vibrant
close. The texture more
creamy as it opens.
Already drinkability but
potential too.
2022 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay
Rating Very good to excellent
Cooling qualities to
the nose, stonefruits,
rockmelon, flecks of
toffee apple. The
palate offers a nutty
undercurrent with top
notes of white peach
and citrus. Youthful
brightness, racy
acidity, will be
delightful with food
on a warm summer’s
day. Fleeting
glimpses of gunflint
appear, just ripe
banana, with a tingly
lip-smacking aspect
on the fresh close.
2022 Ruru Central Otago Chardonnay
Rating Very good to excellent
Initially some exotic
characters here, orange
sherbet, perhaps melon,
evolving with aeration to
more typical ripe peach,
nutty elements, spices,
butterscotch, light oak
seasoning. Lemon and
mandarin at first,
flanked by nuts and
white peach, brisk
acidity portrays its
youthful side with a hint
of firmness. With time,
clay and smoke on the
nose, rounding out
nicely; evolution to
come.
2022 Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay
Rating Excellent to outstanding
Nose gives the
impression of
sumptuousness,
caraway, refined oak, ripe
tropical fruits, creami
ness, fragrance building
with aeration. Power and
depth of flavour, filling
your mouth, countered
by an electric jolt of
acidity. Lovely carry of
flavour. Not a ‘‘leap out of
the glass’’ wine, but
subtle depth, complexity
and interest that quietly
creeps up on you. Just
lovely.
2022 Church Road No 1 S V Tuki Tuki Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay
Rating Outstanding
Powerfully expressed
nose, wisps of gunflint/
struck match, classy
oak, a basket of tropical
fruit, grilled nuts, clotted
cream, smoke, lots
going on. Oak-driven
baking spices, ripe
peach, creamy notes,
powerful drive and totally
mouth-filling. A
refreshing sherbetty
tanginess offers a lovely
counterpoint to the
richness. Endlessly long
close, powerful and very
smart wine.
