Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2024

Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay is a rich, full-flavoured Hawke's Bay Chardonnay with white peach, dried apricot and pineapple layered over crème brûlée, vanilla and toasted nuts. The palate is warm and creamy, with lees-derived texture and gentle oak balanced by a clean mineral line and fresh acidity through the lingering finish. Clone 15 and Mendoza fruit from Pask's Settlement Vineyard were fermented separately before the strongest parcels were selected for the final blend. Generous but composed, it is an inviting match for crayfish, scallops, roast chicken or a creamy mushroom risotto.

What the winery says:

The Chardonnay is a blend of Clone 15 and Mendoza fruit grown at Pask's Settlement Vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels. The clones and individual parcels were kept separate through fermentation before the best components were selected for blending. Free-run juice was transferred to French oak barrels, gently warmed and allowed to undergo wild fermentation, followed by full malolactic fermentation. The wine was stirred weekly for 10 months to build weight and depth, then carefully racked from barrel and bottled without fining. It contains 14% alcohol and less than 1 gram per litre of residual sugar.

What the experts say:

James Suckling, 91/100 (2024 Vintage)
“Round and mellow, showing aromas of apples, pears and sweet baking spices. Medium-bodied, this has fresh acidity and velvety texture.”