This has power and concentration yet retains delicacy and freshness. Mineral, grapefruit, almond meal and quality oak are seamlessly interwoven.

Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke's Bay vineyards. The Estate's ownership varied frequently until John and Wendy Buck acquired it in 1978. John and Wendy instigated a twenty-year development program, which commenced with the restoration of the original winery building and the replanting of all of the original vineyards, as well as the acquisition of new vineyard sites. Elston is named for Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire, the ancestral home of Charles Darwin’s family. Darwin’s ‘theory of natural selection’ forms the basis of modern evolutionary theory, the foundation of biology. The wyvern symbol of Elston Hall appears on the label. The superb quality of the 2021 vintage was immediately apparent in the fully ripe grapes that were hand-harvested from their separate, individual plots within Te Mata Estate’s vineyards. Each parcel was gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled and racked to new and seasoned French oak barrels for fermentation. The resulting wines remained in contact with their yeast lees, with a number going through malolactic fermentation. The finest lots were selected for further maturation, spending a total of 11 months in barrel. Brilliant white gold in the glass, Elston Chardonnay ’21 has wonderfully intense aromas of golden peach, apricot, and lemon zest. Focused but flowing - this is a wine of precision, power, and poise. On the mouth-watering palate there’s oodles of ripe, white-fleshed fruit, nougat and nutmeg, integrated fine oak tannin, and just a flick of salinity. A long line of sweet citrus acidity, and ripe Hawke’s Bay chardonnay fruit, runs through here. Resplendent in its charms, Elston Chardonnay ’21 would match with the best grilled lobster you can get. Or just sit and watch the wine unfold over several hours with a soft-ripened white cheese.

The Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay is made using very traditional winemaking techniques involving wild yeasts and the use of French oak barriques. The resulting wine is always finely flavoured and softly textured with a linear elegance that allows the wine to retain its freshness. Lovely aromatics of white flowers, peach, biscuit and flint. Integrated fresh flavours of stone fruits, lemon zest and roasted nuts create a generous and complex feel across the palate which is elegant and long on the finish.

Gimblett Gravels combines the French concept of terroir with modern day thinking to define, protect and market wine. In what is believed to be a first for winegrowers in the New World - wine growing countries outside Europe - Gimblett Gravels is basing the ultimate designation of their district according to a tightly specified soil type.

Appeasing fragrances of nectarine, stonefruit, honey and lemon zest flowing from the nose mellow down to provide undertones of crème Brulee, roast nuts and citrus fruit. The supple palate features crisp and classic Chardonnay fruit elements that are balanced by the fine and refreshing acidity, leading to a lengthy and persistent climax. Grilled shellfish dishes like scallops and lobster, wild mushrooms, white truffles and hazelnut crusted chicken taste excellent with this elegant Chardonnay wine.

Elston Chardonnay '17 is a fine, pale gold with notes of beeswax, white flowers, ripe peaches and flinty, wet, stone that flow through onto the palate. Roast almonds, hazelnuts, clover honey and warm brioche, along with this wine's signature tight acidity, give the Elston Chardonnay '17 incredible length, detail and finesse. Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawkes Bay vineyards. A temperate maritime climate with low rainfall, due to the rain shadow from mountains to the west, ensures Te Matas sites make the most of every vintage. At the heart of Te Mata Estate are the Havelock Hills Vineyards - the first legally-protected vineyards in New Zealand. Te Mata has five sites on these free draining, north-facing slopes. Soils to the east are mostly sandy loam over a sandstone base, and towards the west are sandy loam over a thin layer of clay and a silica pan. The distinctive shape of the hills is due to their comparative youth, in geological terms. At the meeting point of two tectonic plates, sandstone has been pushed up then worn away relatively quickly leaving a landscape of steep and gentle slopes, and terraces ideal for grape-growing. Under vine for over 120 years, and including some of the oldest grape growing sites in New Zealand, the Havelock Hills are protected for their distinct character, special ambience and unique viticultural heritage.

Brown Brothers Patricia Chardonnay is an elegant style balancing natural acidity with intense fruit flavour. Named in honour of Patricia Brown, the fruit for this exceptional white wine consists of 57% from the Brown Brothers Whitlands vineyard and the balance from Coombe Farm vineyard located in the Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley experiences cool ripening conditions just like the Whitlands vineyard. The vineyard selection contributes to a tight style with wonderful fig and mealy characters typical of a cool climate Chardonnay.

A classic Peninsula Chardonnay with richness and complexity and underlying elegance. Peach and tropical fruit aromas combine well with nutty creamy oak and the palate is full flavoured and long.

The palate exudes fleshy primary fruits, layered with nutmeal, lemon butter and brioche. A chalky, mineral texture and fresh citrus acidity continues the bounce.