Village Vineyards Ironhorse Chardonnay 2022

Village Vineyards Ironhorse Chardonnay is a small-production Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay with roast peach, grapefruit and pear layered over creamy cashew, toasted almond and a faint oyster-shell savouriness. Fermentation in neutral oak gives it texture and subtle toast without burying the fruit, while lively acidity keeps the palate poised and fresh. The name honours Dai Evans’s faithful old Massey Ferguson tractor, rescued from the family orchard and put back to work at the vineyard. Characterful, gently handled and built for the table, this is excellent with roast chicken, pork, rich fish or nutty cheeses.

What the winery says:

Made entirely from estate-grown Chardonnay, the fruit is pressed directly into neutral oak puncheons and fermented with a pied de cuve - a natural starter prepared from the vineyard - before bottling with a light touch of sulphur. Roast peach, grapefruit and creamy cashew sit alongside citrus blossom, pear, dried apricot and toasted almond. The palate is layered and lightly reductive, with fine mineral character, refreshing acidity and a long, textural finish. The fruit was grown while the family vineyard was completing its organic conversion.

What the experts say:

Yvonne Lorkin, 4.5/5 Stars (2022 Vintage)
“Everything about this wine displays gentle complexity and careful handling.”