Grown in the Ohiti valley in western Hawkes Bay – the company have supplied fruit to several top local producers over the years, and are now aiming to ‘be responsible for Hawke’s Bay’s best Chardonnay’. Winner of a Gold medal at NZIWS this year. A golden tone in the glass, with greening to the rim. A quite generous and bold bouquet, with peach, pineapple, satsuma, cashew nut, tarragon, butterscotch and wood smoke. Medium weighted, with salty acidity and ripe, juicy flavours through the palate. Oak is framing the fruit and adds some spice. Layers of flavours scoot into view as you progress – some savoury: green olive and crushed shell: some sweeter: nut butter and lemon curd. Texture also develops, cloaking the back palate, but there is a gravitas and dry pithyness to the finish that bodes well for medium-term cellaring. 94pts
Kokako Farms ‘Awen’ Chardonnay 2024
