Palliser Estate Chardonnay 2024

Palliser Estate Chardonnay lands firmly in the richer camp on the flavour scale, but still carries the freshness and mineral drive that Martinborough does so well. Golden peach and nectarine meet vanilla, almond meal and beurre noisette, with creamy oak and savoury lees adding depth through a full, silky palate. There is plenty of power here, though a bright acid line keeps it polished rather than ponderous. Palliser has been crafting wine in Martinborough since the mid-1980s, and this is a confident, cellar-worthy Chardonnay made for roast chicken, pork or creamy mushroom pasta.

What the winery says:

Fruit is drawn from Palliser’s Om Santi and Woolshed vineyards, then handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in French oak using naturally occurring vineyard yeasts. Selected barrels receive lees stirring to build texture and complexity before the wine is matured in oak. Golden peach, nectarine and vanilla mingle with almond meal and nutty richness, leading into a sumptuous palate of stone fruit, crème brûlée and apricot pastry, carried by fine acidity and a long finish.

What the experts say:

Cameron Douglas MS, 95/100 & Outstanding
“An excellent bouquet and palate with core aromas of complexity and finesse, ripe white fleshed stone fruits and citrus.”

Cuisine, 5 Stars & Top 15
“The palate is very well structured and precise with flavours that are both well concentrated yet subtle.”

Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, 91/100
“Subtle minerality, ripe apple, roasted nuts, whiff of woodsmoke, wet stone. Compact and dense nose.”