De La Terre Mk 1 Chardonnay 2025

De La Terre Mk 1 Chardonnay brings a generous, fruit-forward take on Hawke's Bay Chardonnay, layering ripe tropical fruit with mocha tones and fine toasted French oak. The palate has satisfying mid-palate weight, while the soft acidity keeps everything smooth and approachable rather than overly sharp. Mk 1 is the new identity for de la terre's former Estate Chardonnay, made by a small family-run producer with a particular focus on texture, balance and food-friendly wines. A very easy Chardonnay to reach for when you want richness without going overboard, especially alongside roast chicken, pork or creamy mushroom dishes.

What the winery says:

The 2025 Mk 1 is 100% Chardonnay from Hawke's Bay and represents a new iteration of de la terre's former Estate Chardonnay. The winery has deliberately given it a distinct character of toasty French oak alongside the variety's tropical fruit notes. Fermentation took place in three separate parcels, with a different yeast used for each before the components were blended after fermentation. The finished wine is described as rich and flavoursome, with soft acidity. De la terre favours traditional winemaking and minimal handling, with its wines shaped to retain fruit concentration while remaining well suited to the table.