Named in honour of the wife of pioneer winemaker Tom McDonald; hand-picked fruit from the Omaranui vineyard in the Tutaikuri sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. A pale gold in the glass, with a brightly aromatic nose of grapefruit, white peach, cashew nut and lemon blossom. Clean and elegant into the palate, led by a linear acidity. The palate is juicy but crisp, with a balance of stonefruit and citrus. Focussed on minerality and lees-ageing infuences, this Chardonnay is dialled-down in terms of richness and concentration, but gains a Chablis-style finesse, structure and clarity that will make for a compelling food match this summer. 91pts.
Church Road ‘Gwen’ Chardonnay 2020
