Q Chardonnay   

“An elegant and precise Chardonnay, displaying apricot and citrus with well-balanced oak and minerals.”

“A wine that is ready to enjoy with a bouquet and palate of baked custard and vanilla cream, there’s a nice tautness from the acidity still and with a nut and grapefruit layer makes for a delicious drop. A light cheesy quality and light lees layer keep the palate engaged and salivated. Best drinking from day of purchase through January 2028.”

“Showing the benefit of some nutty/cashew bottle development but still quite youthful with hints of green apple and oyster shell characters. Perhaps lacking the concentration of some earlier vintages, it remains an appealing wine”

“This Waitaki Chardonnay has a generous bouquet with lush fruit and minerals, beautiful tension persist on a chalky mouthfeel to a lengthen, refined finish.”

“Deepening yellow with some golden touches lead to a bouquet and palate of complexity and completeness. Aromas and flavours of peaches and Brazil-nut, lemon and red apple, layers of wood smoke and spices then mineral and a saline touch. There’s no doubt about the complexity. I tasted this wine almost two years ago, it remains stable, fresh and lengthy. Well made with fine fruit and some wood tannins, acidity frames the fruit nicely. On its own or with food, a lovely example. Best from day of purchase through 2029.”

“Lean, vibrant, high energy chardonnay with restrained power. Tasted alongside the 2023 vintage, this wine did seem slightly greener although it showed a similar chalky/saline character that marked it as a close relative”

“100% clone 95 Chardonnay, barrel fermented with 30% new oak. A rich palate with ripe fruit and weighty buttery pastry element, lending a lengthy finish with chalky minerals.”

“Rich, creamy-textured chardonnay with a strongly saline character and toast, sizzled butter, and ginger supported by gently tangy acidity. Appealing wine that is nicely balanced and has cellaring potential”

“Great colour and brightness, some golden hues. Very youthful, bright and refreshing bouquet and plate. Flavours of roasted apple, fresh peach and vanilla cream. As the wine coats the palate flavours of caramel and apple custard emerge framed by a bright acid line and spice from new oak ageing. Well made, still youthful, bright and layered. A complex wine too with best drinking from day of purchase through 2030+.”

“A really lovely bouquet with enticing scents of pineapple and barrel spices, vanilla and clove then a creamed Brazil-nut and butter quality. A dry wine on the palate, full-bodied with a flinty reductive character then flavours of grapefruit and peach, clove and lots of texture. Fine tannins and medium+ acid line, plush, elegant and delicious. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2029.”

“This Chardonnay is elegantly expressed with the hallmark chalky mouthfeel and zingy acidity carrying ripe fruit, gentle spice on a creamy flow. Well-balanced and amiable.”

“Sweetcorn reduction, citrus, pineapple and cashews. With air, subtle notes of chalky minerality emerge, matched on the palate by quite firm phenolics and piercing, mouth-watering acidity to counter the ripe, weighty fruit before the sweetcorn dominates on the finish. Steely structure contrasts with the sappy, forward, fruit conserve flavours. Give it a year to come together and enjoy over the near-term as it gains nutty complexity”