Wairau River Chardonnay

Wairau River Chardonnay is made in a fruit-forward style built for drinking now rather than cellaring, with the estate-grown fruit doing the talking. Pure aromas of nectarine and citrus lead the way, layered with delicate florals and a savoury edge. The palate is generous, almost a dollop of peaches and cream, rounded out by finely integrated French oak and hints of roasted nut and pastry. Fine acidity keeps it honest rather than heavy. It's an easy, approachable style of Marlborough Chardonnay, the kind of bottle that's just as happy on a Tuesday night as at the table with a roast chicken.

What the winery says: This Estate Chardonnay is made in a fruit-forward style for immediate drinking, showcasing typical citrus and stone-fruit Chardonnay character balanced by fine acidity, with some barrel ageing adding complexity - the fruit stays the hero. The 2024 vintage was hand-harvested in mid-March, with 45% of the juice fermented in a mix of new and old French oak barriques and the rest in stainless steel, before ten months of ageing and blending at the Rose Family Estate.