Invivo Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2025

Invivo Hawke's Bay Chardonnay is barrel-fermented, unhurried and exactly the kind of chardonnay that reminds you why the grape earned its comeback. Aged for seven months on lees in French oak, it opens with ripe peach, golden apple and citrus zest, layered with toasted almond, vanilla and a touch of spice. The palate is crisp yet velvety, full of juicy stone fruit and lemon curd with a creamy, almost brioche-like texture the oak keeps well in check, finishing long and nutty rather than overtly woody. Made by the down-to-earth crew at Invivo, it is built for richer seafood and creamy dishes, or simply on its own.

What the winery says:

Invivo's 2025 Hawke's Bay Chardonnay is barrel-fermented and aged for seven months on lees in French oak. Invivo describes aromas of ripe peach, golden apple and citrus zest meeting toasted almond, vanilla and a touch of spice, with a palate that's crisp yet velvety and bursting with juicy stone fruit, grassiness, lemon curd and a whisper of pineapple. The lees ageing lends a creamy texture and brioche-like elegance, while the oak provides backbone through to a long, nutty finish. Invivo suggests pairing it with seafood, creamy dishes, or simply drinking it solo.

What the experts say:

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 91/100 (2025 Vintage)
"It's elegantly expressed on the nose, showing ripe peach, rockmelon, subtle vanilla, and almond meal characters, followed by a succulent palate that's silky and supple. Beautifully rounded and smooth with a lingering, tasty finish. At its best: now to 2029"