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2024 was a brilliant vintage in Marlborough in terms of quality, not so good in terms of quantity. Mixed weather in the spring of 2023 resulted in a poor flowering and consequently low yields, down almost 40% on average across most of our varieties. Thereafter however the weather was perfect with several very hot days and crucially, later in the season, cool nights. This meant the low cropping fruit ripened perfectly and there was absolutely no disease pressure. It also meant we had one of our earliest ever harvests with these Chardonnay grapes being picked on 20 March 2024.
Riverby Estate’s Chardonnay block was planted in 1989, making it one of the oldest Chardonnay blocks in Marlborough, and one of the few still on its own roots. It is also one of the few exclusively planted with the Mendoza clone of Chardonnay: Mendoza having long been recognised as the premium New Zealand chardonnay clone. This Chardonnay was 100% fermented and aged in French oak, 228L barriques and 450L puncheons, and is a selection of only the best barrels. It spent 12 months in oak, 35% new, and underwent lees stirring to produce our desired mealy characters. It underwent a full malolactic fermentation and was bottled on 17 April 2025.
Mid, golden straw in colour, it has a captivating nose displaying ripe stone fruits, peach, nectarine, citrus, vanilla, with hints of hazelnuts, cashews and spicy oak notes. The palate is elegant and refined with a mouth-coating richness and bright acidity. It has classical Mendoza characters of golden queen peach, butterscotch, lemon, grapefruit and tangerine citrus notes. This is a textural, complex, full-bodied wine with rich, creamy, nutty hints, perfectly poised with youthful grip and a lingering delicate finish.
Awards
Gold medal NZIWS Oct 2025
Technical notes
Alcohol: 14.0% Acidity: 6.1 PH: 3.38 Residual Sugar: 2g
Reviews
Gorgeously composed and styled, the complex bouquet presents ripe apricot, rock melon, vanilla, oatmeal, and biscotti characters, followed by a concentrated palate offering terrific weight and persistence. Wonderfully structured and harmonious with a sustained, refined finish. At its best: now to 2032. ***** 95/100 Sam Kim. Wine Orbit. April 2026
Still unfolding, the 2024 vintage (*****) was estate-grown and harvested from Wairau Valley vines over 30 years old. Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouth filling and vigorous, fresh and vibrant, with rich, ripe, peachy, slightly creamy flavours, complex and savoury, that build to a long finish. Best drinking 2028+. Michael Cooper. May 2026
The Old Vines Reserve comes from A 30-year-old+plus vineyard planted with the Mendoza clone of Chardonnay, where grapes develop at irregular sizes. That's prized by many winemakers because good levels of acidity are ensured by the smallest, less developed berries. As always the aromas are so inviting, with creamy almond and a hint of honey, over obviously ripe fruit that spans Meyer lemon to peach. In the mouth the smoothing texture and slick of vanilla makes this quite sumptuous, the fruit is ripe and gently exotic, and the combination of intense concentration and vivid citrus acidity makes for a cracking mouthful of fine wine. Fermented and aged in French oak, 35% new barrels, with 40% in 450L puncheons, the rest in 228L barriques. 94/100
Tom Cannavan. Wine-Pages.com August 2026