Ara Single Estate (Marlborough) 2022 Chardonnay

Gold Medal - Melbourne International Wine Competition (2021 vintage)

This Marlborough Chardonnay shows wonderful complexity, fresh aromas & flavours of citrus, stonefruit and hints of Hazlenuts with a long, focused finish.

Winery note
"Parcels of fruit were fermented separately in large format French and German oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was introduced to balance the wines acidity. After maturing in barrel for 9 months the wines were tasted and blended. Further aging in tank on light lees added greater complexity before bottling. This Marlborough Chardonnay shows wonderful complexity, fresh aromas & flavours of citrus, stonefruit and hints of Hazlenuts with a long, focused finish"

Vegan friendly

Ata Rangi (Martinborough) 2021 Potiki Chardonnay

Commercial description
"This is a youthful wine that’s delicious drinking now, but it will also reward further with cellar age.Pōtiki, meaning ‘last born’ in Maori, is blended from a selection of newer plantings and some of our more established blocks on the Martinborough Terrace.Hand-picked fruit was whole bunch pressed, with the unsettled juice fully barrel fermented in Burgundy 300L puncheon barrels (20% new) using indigenous yeasts. Partial malolactic. Aged in barrel on lees for 13 months.  Barrel fermented in 300 litre puncheons with indigenous yeasts. The 2020 vintage Is concentrated and detailed, balanced with vibrant acidity. The aroma is a wonderful blend of fennel notes, rock melon and citrus blossom. The palate is focused, with a salty, mineral line that finishes with flavours of fresh white almond."

Babich (Hawke's Bay) 2023 Chardonnay

Commercial description

"Specially selected from two estate-owned Hawke's Bay vineyards, By leaving the wine unoaked our winemakers have let the stunning fruit characters to shine, delivering a soft, creamy palate with melon and peach flavours, and a fresh, clean, and dry finish.

Fruit from the Fernhill district and Gimblett Gravels appellation in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and fermented without oak influence. A small percentage of malolactic fermentation was employed to increase the complexity of the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

Food Pairing: A great combination with a variety of foods."

Bay and Barnes (Australia) 2022 Chardonnay

Made by the good folks at Giesen Wines from selected Australian fruit.

Following harvest, fruit was gently pressed before settling. Specially selected yeasts were used to start fermentation. From there the wine matured on French oak for eight months with regular lees stirring to maximise flavour.

Enjoy this Chardonnay with a group of friends or match with a classic pasta or risotto.

Bogle (California) 2020 Chardonnay

Every Day Low Price!

Gold Medal - LA International Wine Competition (2020 Vintage)
8 Best Buys in Last 10 Vintages (Including 2021) - Wine Enthusiast 
Awarded American Winery of the Year – Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2019

Ever popular Californian Chardonnay – rich, full and buttery.

Clearview (Hawkes Bay) 2022 Reserve Chardonnay

Previously listed on Fine Wines of New Zealand

5 Stars - Michael Cooper (2021 Vintage)
"For his premium Chardonnay label, winemaker Tim Turvey aims for a 'big, grunty, upfront' style – and hits the target with ease. It's typically a hedonist's delight – an arrestingly bold, intense, savoury, mealy, complex wine with layers of flavour. Hand-picked from mature vines at Te Awanga, it is fermented and matured in French oak casks (typically 40 to 50 per cent new). Already enjoyable, the 2021 vintage is a bright, light yellow/green, fresh, mouthfilling wine, with rich, vibrant, stonefruit flavours, slightly toasty and buttery notes adding complexity, and a very finely balanced, lengthy finish. Best drinking 2025+."

Deservedly this now has a cult following, Always a banger! Opulent, creamy, toasty, and lavishly fruited, this is sensational full-bodied Chardonnay with equal amounts of style. It will age and fatten out for 10+ years in the cellar if well stored.

Winery says "A classic Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay of power & sophistication stylish with power & complexity, mealy with stonefruit, ripe tropical flavours & substantial body drink now for a fruit driven style or cellar until 2028"

Clearview (Hawkes Bay) 2022 Whitecaps Chardonnay

Wow! lovers of old school chardonnay rejoice! Big bold rich and buttery

"Due to popular demand we are going back to the excesses of the 1980's with loads of oak, buttery toast and massive tropical fruit. Handpicked, estate grown fruit. Full malolactic fermentation. Wonderful palate drive"

Bigger is better....!

Dusky Sounds (Waipara) 2022 Chardonnay

Produced by Waipara Hills and an absolute bargain!

Fruity, juicy and great with food.

Fresh white peach and nectarine aromas with undertones of complex nougat and straw. On the palate, stonefruit flavours lead through to the creamy texture and a clean fresh finish. 

Hunters (Marlborough) 2022 Chardonnay

93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS The Shout NZ Magazine
2021 SILVER MEDAL The New Zealand Agricultural Show 2021

The wine has beautiful stone-fruit and ripe pear characters on the nose with some citrus undertones. The palate shows a tight mid-palate with flinty characters that lead into a complex and juicy finish. Good balance from the toasty oak character that compliments the fruity structure. This wine drinks very well on release but will develop and evolve over the next 5-7 year

Jules Taylor (Marlborough) 2022 Chardonnay

90 Points - James Suckling
91 Points - Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS

Layered with fragrant aromas of red apple, nectarine and lemon peel alongside toasted almond, nougat, a touch of spice and vanilla. On the palate, juicy apple and nectarine flavours are balanced by crisp citrus notes and refreshing acidity. Wild ferment and barrel aging has added complexity, nutty nuances and a weighty texture. The wine concludes in a dry, lingering, elegant finish.

Lawson's Dry Hills (Marlborough) 2022 Chardonnay

A beautifully structured, grown up style of wine, gentle treatment and little oak treatment.

Mineral, peachy and lean...............

Ripe stone fruits, citrus, brioche, roast cashew and hint of savory mealiness. The palate is dry and flinty with some lovely fleshiness and weight. Smooth with fresh citrus characters and a warm richness balanced by a crisp acidity. 

Les Volets (Aude) 2022 Languedoc Chardonnay

4 Stars 17/20 - Candice Chow Raymond Chan Wine reviews (2021 vintage)

New vintage of this popular and deliciously nutty, southern French Chardonnay. Between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean is the Haute Vallée de L’Aude. The traditional ‘noble’ grape Chardonnay has a natural affinity here. Benefiting from the warm climate combined with high altitude, allowing for slower and longer ripening of the grapes. These ideal growing conditions gives this wine concentrated fruit yet refreshing acidity. Made from mostly hand-picked grapes, 20% has been vinified in old oak, imparting texture and body. Bright acidity gives way to green apple and brioche notes. Older oak barrels have added texture and given a toasted hazlenut twist. 

Try with baked chicken with a creamy sauce, wild mushroom risotto or pasta with clams in white wine.

Vegan Friendly

Main Divide (Waipara) 2022 Chardonnay

Matahiwi (Hawkes Bay) 2022 Holly Chardonnay

Gold Medal - China Wine and Spirits Awards
94 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Sourced from two great vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, this is a rich barrel fermented Chardonnay in the classic style with the accent on complexity and fruit weight.

Perfect with seafood, roast chicken or huhu grubs sautéed in garlic butter. Already enjoyable, this wine will continue to improve over the next 3 to 7 years.

Matawhero (Gisborne) 2022 Church House Bf Chardonnay

Gold Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show 2023
5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS

Purchased by Richard & Kirsten Searle in 2008, the 15 hectare Matawhero Estate has now been replanted and revitalised.
“This revival comes from our passion to produce distinctive single vineyard wines with the intense fruit flavours and roundness that is reflective of the Gisborne terroir. We wanted to truly showcase the best of our wonderful region.”

Winery description
"Lovely golden colour. Ripe peach and melon layered with butterscotch and toasty oak notes. The palate is big, rich and full with great length and weight."

Vegan 

Matawhero (Gisborne) 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay

93 Points & Excellent – Cameron Douglas, MS

Grapes for this wine were sourced from the Tietjens vineyard in the Hexton Hills or Golden Slope region in Gisborne. This vineyard was selected for a rich history in producing premium Chardonnay.

Aromas of ripe melon and peach abound with butterscotch and fig notes. The palate is rich, with ripe fruits, showcasing peach flavours and an inherent creaminess, and a lingering bright finish. A Gisborne favourite!

Mount Ridge (AUS) 2021 Chardonnay

The Mount Ridge wines offer unbelievable value.

The Giesen team have done it again bringing to the table a chardonnay that is increddible value, using selected Australian fruit.

Vibrant and fleshy with aromas of summer stonefruit and baked bread. Flavours of crisp apple and nectarine with light oak and minimal butterieness.

Mud House (Marlborough) 2022 Chardonnay

Citrus and stonefruit aromas are complemented by a hint of toasty oak in this Marlborough Chardonnay. The palate is elegant and generously weighted with a soft texture. Ripe stonefruit and citrus flavours provide juicy acidity, complemented by a hint of flinty minerality and subtle oak spice.

Pegasus Bay (Waipara) 2019 Chardonnay

94 Points - James Suckling
18.5/20 - Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
90 Points - Rebeca Gibb MW, Vinous
19/20 - Joelle Thomson
5 Stars & 95/100 - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March 2022
5 Stars - Michael Cooper
95 Points - Cameron Douglas MS, March 2022

This wine has been made utilising the traditional techniques which have made the Chardonnay of the Burgundy region in France so famous. Pegasus Bay thus adopt a hands-off approach so that until the last, or blending, stage, the wine has largely made itself.

Prosper Maufoux (Burgundy) 2020 Macon-Villages

4.5 Stars - Michael Cooper, The Listener
16.5/20 - Joelle Thomson

Prosper Maufoux, who was a notary by trade, left his practice to give his life over to his passion for wine. In 1860 he set up his own firm in Santenay, a Burgundian village in the heart of the vineyards in Southern Cote d’Or.

Prosper Maufoux Macon Chardonnay is a pale golden wine with discreet notes of citrus and white fruits such as peach. It's fresh and balanced on the palate, making it perfect for any occasion.

Pair with roasted fish, seafood and softer cheese.

Radburnd Cellars (Hawkes Bay) 2018 Chardonnay

17points - JancisRobinson.com
5 stars Buyers Guide Edition - Michael Cooper
19/20 - Candice Chow

18.5+ - Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews
“Aperfect shining lemon, nearly a hint of green, a great young chardonnay colour. Bouquet is sweet, ripe, nearly floral, classic young mendoza-clone chardonnay with its hint of yen-ben citrus aromatics, on golden queen peachy fruit. Below is lees-contact complexity and fragrant yet subtle oak which immediately deepens the bouquet, and draws you in, so you are itching to taste the wine. Palate is vibrant with fresh acid against good fruit, the acid making the oak a little more noticeable now, but it will marry away. On taste alone, you almost wonder if it is a non-MLF wine, on the varietal purity of the yellow-fleshed fruit, plus the long natural acid. Not so. And the subtlety of the high-solids fraction is superb. This is a cellaring chardonnay par excellence, like Tony Bish’s Rifleman showing the advantages of the cooler inland districts of Hawkes Bay, for quality chardonnay. I wish it were a little richer, to guarantee the 20-year mark, but it will be a treat at the 8 – 15 year point. I expect this wine to evolve in bottle in exactly the same way as the 1996Lawson's Dry Hills Chardonnay, in its day a definitive wine, which I opened soon afterwards, to compare and illuminate. Note the Lawson’s was a little richer, in youth, as fine chardonnay needs to be. Cellar 10 – 20 years.

The 2018 vintage began with a welcome frost-free spring, followed by a warm, dry Hawke’s Bay summer with hotter days in January and February. March saw some rain but open canopies in the vineyard, balanced crop levels and astute management meant we hand-picked and hand sorted fruit in the 3rd week, ensuring the best possible quality. All the grapes we received demonstrated bright fruit characters and balanced fresh acidity - the hallmarks of cool climate wines.

The cooled bunches were hand sorted then whole bunched pressed. The majority of juice was cold settled then racked to barrel. Fermentation was in new and seasoned French oak, with selected cultured yeast and indigenous yeast, for added complexity. A combination of 500L puncheons and 225L barriques were employed. Lees stirring post fermentation was regular and malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel. The Chardonnay matured in barrel for 9 months before blending and bottling.

An elegant Chardonnay which focuses on the beautiful structure so evident in this grape variety. Pristine fruit and balanced acidity are the backbone, enhanced with seamless texture and mouthfeel. Citrus notes, particularly grapefruit pith abound, gracefully supported by sweet French oak.

Rockburn (Central Otago) 2022 Chardonnay

5 Stars – Sam Kim Wine Orbit
93 Points – David Walker Bell
93 Points – Cameron Douglas MS

Rockburn Chardonnay leans towards the crisper and lighter end of the spectrum, demanding minimal use of oak.The nose is pure and subtle with elements of wet stone, lemon zest and ripe peach.  The palate is full, textural with fine tension, showing lemon meringue, butterscotch and delicate minerality and a zesty finish.

A perfect complement to roast chicken, risotto, and seafood.

Round Hill (California) 2021 Chardonnay

4 Stars - Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Review

Round Hill offers California's most popular varietals sourced from premium Monterey Coast and Central Valley vineyards. Rutherford Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of wines representing the rich diversity of California’s outstanding appellations. 

This wine is a bright gold with aromas of Meyer lemon, pear and honeysuckle, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Delicious flavors of ripe pear and Meyer lemon with hints of caramel. The texture is rich and round, with a crisp finish.

This wine pairs beautifully with herb-baked chicken, grilled or poached salmon, mac & cheese, or a Caesar salad. Delightful by the glass on its own.

Scott Family (USA) 2018 Arroyo Seco California Chardonnay

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
"Lemon blossom, nectarine, damp sand and the lightest touch of butter make for a compelling nose. It's very racy on the palate, with a brisk lemon-juice flavor that cuts through the rounded tones of nectarine and apricot."

Winesale exclusive californian import

Stunning Premium, Cali Chard and always well awarded. This will knock your socks off!

100% Chardonnay Dijon Clone
Aged 10 months in a combination of Stainless Steel and new and old French and American Oak

Winemaker notes
"Vibrant aromas of stone-fruit, green apple, and slight sweet oak. This Chardonnay features a creamy mid-palate with a soft finish, bright acidity to compliment citrus and mineral flavors. Pair this wine with summer corn & wood grilled wild king salmon. Also delicious with soft cheeses such as a triple-crème cheese served with apricots."