White Wine - Chardonnay

Our Iris Chardonnay comes from the gracious slopes of our Čuvar Terraces Vineyard in Bayview. First planted by George Fistonich in 1986 (he was yet to become Sir), this vineyard has one of the best views in the bay - looking out to the Pacific Ocean. This environment shapes the sunshine of this wine.

The forthright bouquet introduces bursts of candied tropical fruits intertwined with notes reminiscent of warm fruit crumble. Gentle oak wraps around the palate of balanced acid and ripe fruit. Nothing is too dominant — the fruit, oak, acid and flavours all sing in harmony.

Food Matching

Our Iris Chardonnay goes beautifully with caramelised savoury dishes. We are particularly fond of glazed salmon, roast beetroot and goats cheese salad and manuka smoked chicken on freekeh.

AWARDS 92 Points

Familiar scents and flavours of peaches and cream with a clay and lees touches, some vanilla and wood smoke from a lick of oak. On the palate the wine touches with a satin-cream mouthfeel then acidity and some fine tannins add breadth, texture and length. Fruit flavours are persistent with a citrus peel touch, balanced and well made, ready to drink from day of purchase through 2026.

Cam Douglas, 2024

VINTAGE

2022 was a complicated vintage that saw our winemakers and viticulturists work closely with each other. Drawing on their collective expertise they watched the weather forecasts, continuously throughout the day to ensure picking scheduling was exact, maximising the sun for as long as possible. We hand picked our Čuvar Terrace Chardonnay in two parcels to best capture the flavour and acid profiles this vineyard creates.

VINEYARD Čuvar Terrace Vineyard (100%)

In 1986 George Fistonich gently carved out the terraced vineyard that follows the natural contours of a hillside basked in sunlight, with arguably one of the best views in Hawke’s Bay looking out to the Pacific Ocean.

WINEMAKER’S COMMENT

A forthright bouquet introducing bursts of candied tropical fruits intertwined with notes reminiscent of warm fruit crumble. Gentle oak wraps around the palate of balanced acid and ripe fruit – this Chardonnay is a crowd pleaser where nothing is too dominant with the fruit, oak, acid and flavours all sing in harmony.

Wine Making Fruit Handling

100% hand-picked & whole bunch pressed

Fermentation Vessel

30% tank fermented then moved to barrel 100% barrel matured

Tech Notes

PH : 3.50

TA : 5.73gl

ALC : 12.7%

Residual Sugar : 2.5

Standard Drinks : 7.5

Variety : Chardonnay 100%

Bottled : October 2023

Vegan Friendly