Chardonnay 2023

The 2023 vintage in Marlborough turned out to be exceptional, producing grapes, and ultimately wine, of incredible quality, although it certainly didn’t always look that way. Spring 2022 started with good weather leading to a successful flowering and reasonable bunch numbers. From January onwards the weather was quite mixed, with showers and inconsistent temperatures, however the grapes came through in good order and the last two weeks prior to harvest had perfect conditions for slow, perfect ripening with cool nights and warm days.

Our 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.

The grapes were harvested in good condition on 30 March 2023, our latest Chardonnay harvest for many years. After careful handling the wine was 100% fermented and aged in French oak. It spent just over 11 months in oak, 25% new, and underwent lees stirring to produce our desired mealy characters. The wine underwent a full malolactic fermentation. It was bottled on 8 February 2024.

Enticing mid straw, yellow in colour, this Chardonnay has a fresh baguetty nose with hints of citrus, vanilla, hazelnuts, peaches and nectarines. On the palate the citrus characters shine through with limes and lemons. The appealing nutty character carries through to the palate with hazelnuts, cashews and roasted almonds. It has mouth-coating richness and bright acidity and a herbal nuance. This is a textural, complex, elegant, full-bodied wine with rich, creamy, mealy characters, perfectly poised with youthful grip. It is a delicious, classical Chardonnay that promises to unfold further delights as it ages gracefully for many years to come.

Technical Notes

Alcohol: 14.0% Acidity: 6.08 PH: 3.48 Residual Sugar: 0 g

Reviews

The 2023 vintage (****), estate-grown at Rapaura, was harvested from mature vines, planted in 1989.   Bright, light lemon/green, it is an attractive, mouth-filling, well-rounded wine, with strong stone-fruit flavours, mealy and biscuity notes adding complexity, and a slightly creamy texture.  Best drinking mid-2026+. ****                                            Michael Cooper April 2025                                                                                                          

The only real difference between this and the Reserve in terms of barrels is 35% new oak for the reserve, 30% for this wine. There's certainly a definite but delightful oak character on the nose, vanilla and almond rather than anything too toasty. In the mouth that creaminess supports pristine stone fruit and citrus, a little peek of riper nectarine coming through, but the acid balance and texture giving this breadth and sharpness. 92/100

                                                                                 Tom Cannavan. Wine-pages.com May 2025