Although some of these tasting notes may be found elsewhere on this site, this page brings together most of my Chardonnay notes, listed alphabetically by Producer. Click here for rating systems and abbreviations.

Clearview Beachhead Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Moderate gold in colour with stonefruit and toasty savoury oak scents and spicy oak flavours with rich flavours of apricot and citrus with toast on the rounded full-bodied finish. Good wine. Great value. 14% alc. $16.99. 23Mar2011.
Golden coloured with a mealy scent, served well chilled it's a full-bodied savoury style with noticeable yeast and French oak influence, a nutty undercurrent to the lemon/ grapefruit backbone and a spicy finish. As it warms up, luscious stonefruit flavours come through. 14% alc. $16.99 27Apr2011.
Golden yellow with an aroma of spiced pear, and pear and stonefruit flavours. A juicy fruity wine with little influence of oak, although the oak is there, and seemingly quite sherbetty tonight. 14% alc. $16.99. 3Aug2011.

Crossroads Kereru Road Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Quite neutral on the nose when chilled, but spicier and later hinting of butterscotch, it's fruity and juicy with lovely toasty oatmeal flavours coming through together with a richness of stonefruit and melon with oak spice on the finish. Rounded and full with a seamless impression, but don't over chill to experience the true class. 14.5% alc. $39.99. 15Jun2011.

Crossroads Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Quite golden for such a young wine, it's tight and nutty with a citrussy tang, a buttery nuance and rounded stonefruit flavours on the lightly spicy, full-bodied finish. Can be served well chilled. 14.5% alc. $14.99. 6Jul2011.

Hyperion Helios Matakana Chardonnay 2010 (sc) A well-rounded, creamy Chardonnay, the aroma is smoky with a hint of fig and the flavours are a little mealy with polished savoury oak and subtle fruit to start, but expands nicely with fleshy peach underpinned with sweet citrus and tropical fruit adding brightness and zing. Subtle nuances of butterscotch as it lingers, too. 4 stars. 14.5% alc. $32. 28Apr2011.

Kahurangi Estate Mt Arthur Reserve Nelson Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light gold with a smoky, creamed cashew bouquet and a nutty sweetness to the tropical fruit and apricot flavours with nuts, figs and nougat and a tingly citrussy infusion to the long, smooth creamy finish. A lovely wine. 14.5% alc. $20.99. 31Aug2011.

Marisco 'Kings Bastard' Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light gold coloured with aromas of freshly picked orchard fruit, hints of peach and a subtle suggestion of smoke. Served chilled it's flinty, tight and citrussy with the fruit fleshing out towards stonefruit as the wine warms up. With hints of tobacco and hair oil, it's quite different from the big, bold, creamy 2009. This wine shoud not be overchilled and will probably improve with more time in the bottle. 13.5% alc. $18.99 11May2011.

Marsden Estate 'Black Rocks' Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Tantalising and appealing with a rich, creamy, spicy vanillin oak and subtle butterscotch bouquet, its light gold-coloured and tastes warm, rich and rounded with spicy oak and tropical fruit combining in harmony. Served chilled it's initially quite nutty and tight but opens up beautifully and the finish is fleshy, mouthcoating and long. Terrific wine. 13.5% alc. $32.99. 31Aug2011.

Mills Reef Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light gold coloured with a smoky nuance to the nutty, mealy scent, and plenty of toasty, cedary oak flavours. Fresh and young with a creamy texture and flavours of spiced peaches and nectarines and a rounded finish. Classy wine that will continue to develop. 13.5% alc. $20.99. 5Oct2011.

Mt Hillary Barrique Fermented Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Pale in colour, served quite chilled this has a neutral aroma but reveals delicate sweet smoky oak and mealy notes as it warms up. Textural with toasty oak, a buttery nuance, fleshy stonefruit and a long finish, citrus flavours are accentuated by chilling. 13.5% alc. $19.99. 15Jun2011.

Sacred Hill Riflemans Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) There's a more mealy nuance to the scent with citrus and fine French oak and a much tighter corset to the palate. Finesse perfectly describes this wine - fine oak, fine texture, fine mealy and malo characters with tropical fruit, citrus, stone fruit, a nutty nougat richness and depth and intensity as the fabulous flavours linger. Shows excellent potential for long term development. Top wine. 14% alc. $67.99. 21Sep2011.

Sacred Hill Wine Thief Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Class and sophistication are the hallmarks of this powerful Chardonnay. Aromas of nuts and figs with a hint of nougat are tantalising and the flavours are rich and savoury with a creamy subtlety. Dry, rich and still a little tight, with citrus and stonefruit, a mealy mouth coating richness and butterscotch nuances developing, the overall consensus was excellent. 13.5% alc. $24.99. 21Sep2011.

Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light gold coloured with a bold, rich, creamy scent, this young wine is delicious already. It's creamy and malty with loads and loads of refined American oak, a lovely infusion of orange zest and biscuit spices combining with butterscotch on the lasting finish. A stylish wine that can only get better as the oak integrates and mellows. 14% alc. $35.99. 13Jul2011.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) This is seriously a charmer. It has a lovely light gold colour, it smells and tastes oaky and toasty with a flourish of spice, ripe melon and stonefruit, and there's a more-ish finish of caramel corn. Full-bodied and mouthfilling with a pleasing texture. 14.5% alc. $29.99. 5Oct2011.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light gold with a gem-like lustre and an aroma of creamed cashews and hazelnuts infused with zest of lemon. Tight, flinty and citrussy with underlying vanillin oak and a touch of butter caramel coming though, it's texturally complex with a full-bodied finish and shows excellent cellaring potential. 14% alc. $29.99. 31Aug2011.

Soljans Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light yellow gold with floral nuances to the bouquet together with peach, hints of butter and mealy scents. It's ripe, fresh and juicy with subtle vanillin oak interweaving beautifully with fleshy, peach fruit flavours. It has a little bit of creaminess, a touch of spiciness, a rounded mouthfeel allowing it to slip down easily then a zing of citrus is a bonus on the finish. Liked it. 13.5% alc. $19. 11Nov2010.

Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Bright gold and tantalisingly aromatic with a hint of bubble gum-scented magnolia infusing the bouquet. A bold-tasting wine with toasty oak, caramel and wild yeast, well-defined fig and stonefruit and a long, creamy finish. Well-liked on the night and a cellaring proposition too. 14% alc. $16.99. 28Sep2011.

Takutai Nelson Chardonnay 2010 (sc) A juicy, lightly-oaked Chardonnay with fruity aromas of stonefruit and mandarin and a touch of butterscotch sweetness to the stonefruit flavours with a mealy savoury twang, a subtle oak nuance and a sweet lift to finish. Soft and easy-going, the kind of Chardonnay to chill well and enjoy for what it is. Don't think about it. Just drink it. Made by Waimea Estate. 3 stars. 13.5% alc. $16. 26Apr2011.

Thornbury Gisborne Chardonnay 2010 (sc) From the delicate toasted cashew perfume to the creamy richness of the nutty flavour, this medium to full-bodied Chardonnay has an apricot, nectarine and melon fruit brightness and a smoky finish. Called 'Baby Barrique' by the Villa Maria team, it delivers smooth, easy drinking. 14% alc. $12.99. 8Jun2011.

Tohu Unoaked Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 (sc) The bouquet is like smelling peach stones and it's fruity to the taste with a mealy richness that builds the structure and balances the fruit with savouriness. A touch of melon comes through on the finish. Excellent match to hot smoked salmon on a pasta with basil and lemon. 13% alc. $21.95. 1Apr2011.

Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Moderate gold in colour with a tantalising smoky French oak and grapefruit bouquet and butterscotch and toasty oak filling the spicy, savoury palate with the richness of stonefruit, lovely clean-cutting acidity, a rounded mouthfeel and a nice touch of zest on the long lasting finish. Classy. 13.5% alc. $26.99. 14Sep2011.

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Auckland Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Light yellow gold with a tantalising mealy, grapefruit-infused, creamy oak bouquet. Expressive in the mouth, this is a toasty wine with melon and tropical fruit underpinned by grapefruit and cornmeal. Hints of caramel and butterscotch push their way through. Seamless in its flow, a great wine from a great vintage and simply delicious. 13.5% alc. $31.99. 3Aug2011.

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010 (sc) Served chilled there's a captivating aroma of citrus and caramel while a funky savouriness characterises the lemony, leesy palate with sweet spicy oak, a nuance of grapefruit, delicious mealy malty flavours, toast, grilled stonefruit and hazelnut lingering harmoniously. A seamless wine with a golden hue, wonderful mouthfeel and phenomenal length. 13% alc. $29.99. 7Sep2011.

Boundary Vineyards Tuki Tuki Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Now this has to be Chardonnay. It's toasty and rich, full-bodied and creamy with a little oak brashness, stonefruit, a tingle of grapefruit and caramel cream coating the finish. 14% alc. $17.99. 6Jul2011.

Charles Wiffen Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold in colour, this is much more Burgundian in style. On the nose there's smoky French oak with a sweet seam of nougat and citrus and nougats fill the creamy, nutty palate with integrated French oak, hints of stonefruit and a zesty infusion to the long creamy finish. 13.5% alc. $19.99. 29Sep2010.
Light gold with a perfumed, peppery, carnation and roses bouquet. Concentrated and luscious, lovely focus without being too sweet. The distinctive Middle Eastern spice and rose water flavours come through. The finish is persistent and lingers delicately. Champion Gewurztraminer at the Spiegelau International Wine Show 13.5% alc. $21.99. 3Aug2011.

Church Road Cuve Series Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) This bright gold coloured wine is a creamy smelling, malolactic style with savoury oak and a touch of peach infused into the bouquet. A rich, full, mouth-filling wine with a dry flinty backbone and a citrus nuance to balance the powerful stonefruit flavours, and smoky oak that adds an element of sophistication and leaves behind a lingering smile. 13.5% alc. $26.99. 23Mar2011.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light golden yellow with a tantalising toasty, smoky, savoury bouquet and smooth, creamy, spicy, savoury and deeply malty flavours with apricot and nectarine fruit and butter caramel surging on the finish. With classy oak, malolactic, wild yeast nuances and finesse to the texture, the 'house style' of this premium Hawkes Bay label comes through. A gold medal contender for sure. I rate it 5 stars. 13.5% alc. $29.99. 26Jan2011.
Yellow gold coloured with a smoky, butterscotch-coated scent, on first tasting it seems so dry, but it is so salivating. It’s nutty and creamy, almost biscuity, with toasty oak, grilled peaches and melons, and developing beautifully in the bottle to become complex and multi-layered. Harmonious as it crosses the palate, with a lasting finish. 13.5% alc. $32.99. 20Jul2011.

Church Road Tom Chardonnay 2009 - Hawkes Bay (C) Citrine gold in hue with classy mealy-infused savoury oak scents. Tight and restrained to start, it's dry, flinty and savoury with a lactic character from secondary malolactic fermentation. But this wine shows what it has to offer, compounding in flavour and the taste expanding in the mouth with nougat, nuts, apricot, a creamy sweetness and richness of fruit. A very young wine - it doesn't have the bottle age that the 2006 had on release, so it's a wine for the cellar right now. Yet the flavours that linger on the lasting finish is a key indicator that this could become one of the greats. 13.5% alc. $65.99. 23Mar2011.

Clearview Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) This is a glorious, finely polished, smooth-textured Chardonnay that's powerful in stature. Grapefruit, nuts and subtle smoke on the nose, the grapefruit more dominant in the palate with peach, malt and crème brulee. Moderate chilling becomes this spicy mouthful and as it starts to warm up, nectarines come through too. 14.5% alc. $32.99. 19Jan2011.

Coopers Creek Reserve Gisborne Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A lovely savoury Chardonnay with toasty French oak and a malty richness with a zesty citrus infusion and a tropical fruit layer adding juiciness to the spicy finish. A sophisticated, serious wine. 14% alc. $22.99. 15Sep2010.

Coopers Creek Swamp Reserve Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A textural wine with aromas of stonefruit with a hint of pineapple, and a lovely fruit profile in the palate to balance the savouriness, with hints of nuts and lanolin, finishing focussed and tight. 14% alc. $26.99 27Apr2011.

Corazon SV Kumeu Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light citrine gold. Nutty mealy aromas. A rich and semingly quite 'fat', buttery wine at first, becoming more eleagant as the delightful citrus, melon and tropical fruit flavours cut through. Full-bodied in style with a long nutty finish and a mealy richness. 12.8 % alc. $22.50. 1Jul2010.

Estuary Kingsview Estate Mangawhai Chardonnay 2009 (sc) This light gold coloured wine is seriously rich, toasty, creamy and spicy with fruits that pulse with melon and pineapple, a citrussy backbone with a long juicy finish. The wine is made by Rod McIvor at Marsden Estate. 12.5% alc. Screwcap. $25.99. 26Aug2010.

Felton Road Bannockburn Central Otago Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light yellow gold in colour with peach and mealy nuances to the perfumed aroma and bright fruit flavours well defined underlying acidity, spicy oak and a zesty finish. Full-bodied and smooth and delicious already. 14.5% alc. $36.99. 23Jun2010.

Felton Road Block 2 Central Otago Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light lemon gold-coloured with a lemon brioche aroma that carries through to the savoury, malty palate. Texturally sublime – smooth, silky, mouthcoating – and while not overly fruity it has intensity and richness in the best possible way. Made from Felton Road's oldest Chardonnay vines. 14% alc. $51.99. 6Apr2011.

Felton Road "Elms" Central Otago Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Unoaked, although the label doesn't say so, this has nut, citrus and grilled peach scents that lead into a distinctly citrussy palate with a creamy texture and a malty richness. A perceived toasty savouriness that must come from aging on yeast lees definitely adds a classy dimension. Medium chilling is best. 14% alc. $30.99. 16Feb2011.

Goldridge Estate Premium Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light yellow gold coloured with a spicy, perfumed, almost floral woody aroma and broad mealy flavours of butter and malolactic characters - a smooth, soft, easy drinking wine with enough spicy oak to make it interesting, juicy stonefruit and a creamed nut finish. 13.5% alc. $13.99. 11Aug2010.
A youthful fresh Chardonnay with richness from the savoury oak, a mealy undercurrent and creaminess from the mlf that tames the citrus-like acidity. Medium to full-bodied in style with a long savoury finish. 13% alc. $15.95. 13Nov2010.
Golden in hue with toast and butterscotch scents and juicy peach and red apple flavours supported by toasty oak, this is medium-bodied in style with a long creamy, almost caramel finish. It's rounded and easy, a great quaffer. 13.5% alc. $12.99. 2Feb2011.

Greywacke Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (c) This is light yellow gold in hue and smells tantalising bright and rich with sweet oak and hints of grapefruit. A lovely expressive wine when just lightly chilled with flavours of smoky French oak, malt, honeyed wheat, stonefruit, melon and citrus and lingering notes of butterscotch caramel. Utterly irresistible tonight. 14.5% alc. $38.99. 26Oct2011.

Hunter's Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Moderate gold coloured with citrus and tropical fruit to the fore, a zesty freshness with a savoury oak undercurrent and lovely nuances of peaches and caramel cream. This can take chilling without the acidity becoming too edgy. Drinking well now. Perfect for 5 o'clock drinks. 14.5% alc. $16.99. 5Oct2011.

Karikari Estate Northland Chardonnay 2009 (sc) This is a chardonnay that quickly hits the spot. It's smooth and creamy with toasty polished French oak and baked peach pie. There's a touch of citrus that keeps the rich fruit in balance and a fine coating of nut-brown butter. A lovely fat buttery style that you don't see so often these days. Fermented in stainless steel and oak with innoculated & wild yeasts. "A real treat", my sister says. I agree. 13.3% alc. $32.50. 11Mar2011.

Lake Chalice The Raptor Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) With grapefruit and mealy barrel ferment scents, this light to medium gold coloured wine smells classy, sophisticated and smooth. The texture is creamy and buttery and the fruit is delicately peachy with a lovely lemon infusion. Now this is a Chardy that takes chilling well and with a bit of chilling, it's ready to enjoy now, yet will integrate nicely with a couple more years cellaring. Matt Thompson is listed as the winemaker. 14% alc. $24.99. 23Mar2011.

Lochiel Estate Mangawhai Chardonnay 2009 (sc)This lovely rich, ripe, toasty, caramel cream Chardonnay tempts with its butterscotch aroma and really hits the spot with its stonefruit and buttery characters with a rich backbone of nutty savoury oak and roundness to the powerful finish. 14.5% alc. $24.99. 10Nov2010.

Marisco The Kings Bastard Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 Woodsmoke on the nose and citrus, apricot and loads of toasty spicy oak in the palate. Quite smooth and seamless - it just flows - and the finish is long and mealy. 14.5% alc. Screwcap. $18.99. 1Sep2010.
A nutty style of Chardonnay with lemon brulee in the background and smoky oak. Stylish and elegant with a hum of citrus, a slightly oily texture and tropical fruit combined with apricot on the sweetish but very juicy finish. 14% alc. $16.99. 5Jan2011.

Matua Valley Ararimu Gisborne Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A subtle hint of cream to the scent and quite mellow and buttery to the taste with an underlying flinty nuance to the citrus and tropical fruit and an expansive, mouthfilling finish where caramel and apricot linger. From the Judd Estate, this once iconic label is really back to form, following on from the gold medal winning 2007. 13.5% alc. $39.99. 9Feb2011.
Quite golden in colour yet surprisingly the aroma is initially quite neutral, becoming quite creamy with malolactic nuances filtering through. It starts off a little like Chablis but builds in flavour from the subtle start and the finish is rich with caramel, stonefruit, citrus, nougat and nuts. A stylish wine with an 'Old World' feel. 13.5% alc. $35.99. 5Oct2011.

Matua Valley Judd Estate Gisborne Chardonnay 2009 (sc) From a little closer to home, this is a medium-bodied, savoury-styled Chardonnay with melon, tropical fruit, citrus, nicely seasoned oak and spiciness to the lingering finish. From the same estate as the Ararimu we tried a few weeks ago but rather more affordable. 13.5% alc. $20.99. 16Mar2011.

Mills Reef Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Moderate gold. Quite youthful smelling though has richness and hints of sweetness too. Lightly oaked with tropical fruit and stonefruit flavours, a hint of a savoury spicy backbone and a fruity finish. 13.5% alc. $18.95. 12Jul2010.

Mills Reef Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) This is a hugely fragrant wine with crushed almonds, smoke, vanilla and a hint of cream. That distinctive nuttiness continues through to the big, juicy palate with caramel-edged oak and 'juicy fruit' chewing gum freshness. Youthful and bright with a long rounded finish. A 'stand-up options' wine. 14% alc. $19.99. 2Jun2010.

Mission Estate Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light lemon gold with creamy oak and butterscotch aromas, this is smooth and seamless in the palate with a suggestion of spiced peaches and cream and a toasty richness to the juicy finish. Very smart. 14% alc. $19.99. 26Jan2011.
Moderate yellow gold with perfumed oak scents and a ripe fruit flavours with stonefruit joining savoury oak, lashings of toast, a touch of nutmeg and an undernote of grapefruit and lemon. Rounded in the palate and a finish that's long. 14% alc. $19.99. 6Apr2011.
There's lots of appeal to the complex fragrant aromas and the full-bodied, rich, oaky, toasty flavours with a touch of butterscotch; a salty, savoury undercurrent; fruit reminiscent of stonefruit and citrus and a concentrated, powerful, lasting finish. Lovely balance throughout.14% alc. $19.99 27Apr2011.

Mission Estate Vineyard Selection Middle Road Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Clear, bright, citrine-coloured with a cream caramel and biscuity oak scent and a smooth, creamy texture. There's a savoury nuance with a spicy citrus zest tingle, a touch of salinity, grilled stonefruit and butterscotch on the powerful finish. Delivers quality way above its value. 13.5% alc. $13.99. 3Nov2010.

Moana Park Vineyard Selection Grange Block Chardonnay 2009 - Hawkes Bay (sc) There is a freshness to the cedary oak scent of this light gold coloured toasty babe. A fruity wine with oak playing a minor background role, it has a smooth creamy texture and a long fresh finish with malolactic during the winemaking process adding a modicum of butteriness. 13.5% alc. $14.99. 28Apr2010.

Momo Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A very appealing, perfumed, mealy barrel ferment scent - nutty with a hint of citrus. Apricot, citrus, bready flavours, with a nice touch of polished spicy French oak. Lovely rounded mouth feel imparts a smoothness to the finish, which is long and brightened with zest. Organic, biodynamic. 14% alc. $20. 20Feb2011.

Mount Riley Seventeen Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Toasty oak combines with citrus, melon and tropical fruit in this much drier style with spicy savoury oak and a nutty complexity to the very long finish. Still quite young and zingy. 13.5% alc. $31.99. 21Jul2010.
Softer and more rounded than the previous wine, quite citrussy with acidity that is definitely more tingly. It's smooth and creamy to the taste with malolactic adding a nice touch of butteriness and lovely mealy barrel ferment flavours building on the very refined finish. 13.5% alc. $32.99. 16Feb2011.

Muddy Water Waipara Chardonnay 2009 (sc) There's an intrgiuing funkines to the scent that smells of wild yeast. Mealy aromas are followed by citrus and honey oak flavours with a savoury mealy backbone and touches of peach. Ripe and rich when tasted at cool room temperature but when it's chilled it’s polished and malty and lots of oak flavours come forth. Wild yeast ferment in oak with 11 months on lees. 14.5% alc. $32. 24Feb2011.

Nautilus Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Quite high-toned in comparison to the previous wines, an indicator of its more southerly origin, it's juicy and fruity with a lovely nutty, mealy, savoury undercurrent. Smooth and seamless in its delivery, it's very classy with hints of mandarin zest and fig adding finesse. 14% alc. $30.99. 27Apr2011.

Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Lots of toasty oak, a little brash at this stage with an oily texture, stonefruit, a tighter acid finish and god length and persistence. 13.5% alc. $16. 23Feb2010.

River Farm Godfrey Road Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Moderate gold in hue with a sweet malty oak aroma with a honey nut overlay. Slippery textured (glycerolic) with nutty oak, malt and citrus, it's not super toasty but pleasingly soft and creamy with a zesty flourish to the lingering finish. 14% alc. $19.99. 26Oct2011.

Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) When chilled there’s a lovely toastiness to the bouquet while leesy, mealy, nuances come through in the warm, rich, rounded palate with spicy, savoury oak a lovely foil to the melon, stonefruit and citrus and a touch of caramel to the lingering finish. 13.5% alc. $21.99. 24Aug2011.

Sacred Hill Halo Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold coloured with a smoky, savoury, mealy scent. Malolactic milky creaminess is the dominant feature of this more elegant, restrained style with fruit more in the pip fruit (apple/pear) spectrum and a dry, savoury finish. Served chilled, some people described this as one dimensional, so do not over chill. 13% alc. $18.99. 23Mar2011.
Light gold coloured with smoky oak aromas infused with nuts and grilled peach. The texture is smooth and rounded with a touch of viscosity, peaches, butterscotch, nutty oak, a savoury mealy richness and fabulous length. 100% barrel fermented in older oak. 13% alc. $19.99. 21Sep2011.

Sacred Hill Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold, clear and bright. A little toffeeish on the nose with scents of caramel glazed peaches and smoky oak. The buttery caramel flavours are more prominent in the palate, coating the mouth with juicy ripe peach and a touch of tangy citrus zest to balance the perceived sweetness. Well integrated spicy oak plays a supporting role in the background. 13% alc. $20.90. 9Jan2010.

Saint Clair Premium Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Brimming with tropical fruit – even a hint of pineapple, it's fresh and juicy with a touch of spice, underlying mealy flavours, an underpinning of citrus and a creamy finish that becomes richer and richer. A sunshine wine – it's very rounded, every easy-going and very easy to drink. 13 % alc. $20.95. 20Nov2010.

Seifried Barrique Fermented Chardonnay Nelson 2009 (sc) A big savoury wine brimming with lemon and grapefruit, classy French oak and lovely baked bread complexities. Savoury and malty with citrus and stonefruit, this is developing beautifully and will become more and more toasty with a little more time. There are shades of the stunning 2006 in this wine. 14% alc. $22.99. 3Nov2010.
Now this has lashings of lemon-polished oak, both on the nose and in the palate. Smooth and seamless, yet quite high-toned and citrussy with a little bit of apple and stonefruit coming through, and malty and savoury on the powerful finish. Beautiful drinking. 14% alc. $22.99. 16Feb2011.
Golden hued, shiny. Big, bold, creamy smelling, powerful in its presence both aromatically and in the mouth. It has lots of smoky oak with toasted brazils, grapefruit, stonefruit and malt and a citrus brightness to the full-bodied finish. Smooth and rich, it shows maturity for its age. If you liked the blockbuster 2006, you will like this. 14% alc. $22.99. 18May2011.

Sileni The Lodge Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A little smoky and savoury on the nose and smooth and creamy in the mouth with lovely grilled peach and mealy flavours, with just the right amount of toasty oak. A rich, flavoursome wine with a hint of butterscotch sweetness lingering beautifully, uplifted on the finish by a citrussy tang. 13.5% alc. $31.99. 10Aug2011.

Spinyback Nelson Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light yellow gold-coloured with a smoky aroma that's infused with butterscotch and apricot, this flavoursome Chardonnay has flavours of apricot and tropical fruit with a firm seam of citrus, a savoury leesy undercurrent and a toasty richness. Fills out well in the palate and is super value for the special price. Made by Waimea Estate. 13.8% alc. $11.99. 6Apr2011.

Spy Valley Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold with pineapple nuances to the mealy scent, the tropical fruit character carrying through to the creamy palate that's enhanced with a hint of passionfruit and a savoury mealy character from some aging on yeast lees. A delicious, fresh, juicy summery style for drinking. Excellent fruit weight. If I was given a glass of this I'd really enjoy it. 14 % alc. $16.90. 30Dec2009.

Stoneleigh Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Hints of butterscotch on the nose and zesty and bright in the palate with a little graininess from the oak and a rich nutty finish with lots of citrus and melon. As the wine lingers in the mouth, the caramel detected on the nose pushes through. 14 % alc. $23.00. 20Nov2010.

Te Awa Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Toasty oak aromas and big toasty, cedary oak flavours are a little overwhelming at first and dominate the melon and tropical fruit and the creamy, mealy backbone. A young wine that needs to settle. 13.5% alc. $20. 21Jan2011.

Te Mania Nelson Chardonnay 2009 (sc) The bouquet is a little restrained, not wanting to give too much away. Creamy and juicy in the palate, Fruit salad and stonefruits resonate through this creamy, juicy wine. It's a nicely balanced, young, estery, easy drinking, medium-bodied style. Light chilling, at the very least, is recommended. 14% alc. $20. 21Jan2011.

Te Mata Elston Chardonnay 2009 (D) Creamy oak is quite forward on the nose and it's smooth and buttery in the palate with a funky malty influence from the native yeasts and again a touch of salinity, which comes from the work they do in barrel on the yeasts lees. Mouth-filling apricot, nectarine and Golden Queen peaches are infused with grapefruit and savouriness from the oak and yeasts. Starting to open up nicely, it has a subtle honeyed veneer. 14% alc. $29.99. 9Mar2011.

The People's Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A lovely oak driven wine but so deftly done. With grapefruit, stonefruit, butterscotch and lime, it is creamy and toasty with a seamlessness to the texture and a touch of spice on the lasting finish. 14% alc. $15.99. 15Sep2010.

Ti Point Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) A mealy smelling Chardonnay, fruity yet savoury with tropical fruit, a nutty backbone and a hint of grapefruit. A dry, lightly oaked wine, 20% fermented in one year old barrels, the rest in stainless steel. 13.5% alc. $23.00. 16Jul2010.

Tolaga Bay Lightly Oaked Chardonnay 2009 (sc)Tempts with its appealing bouquet of peaches and pears and tastes light and fresh with a lightly oily texture that imparts a satin smooth mouthfeel. There's a touch of spice from the subtle oak, lots of juicy fruitiness and a touch of savouriness too and while light to start, this wine makes an impact on the palate with a richness to the finish and pleasing persistent flavours. A gorgeous peachy Chardonnay that is beaut served well chilled and enjoyed as a beverage wine, or with food. We accompanied the wine with chicken breasts served with a fresh peach sauce - a favourite at this time of year. 13% alc. $14.95. 13Feb2010.

Tolaga Bay Unoaked Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Similar in flavour profile to the lightly oaked but with more acidity that adds a bright zestiness. Warm and just a little nutty with a smooth texture, juicy tropical fruit and the zing of peach sherbet on the finish, it was good enough to receive a silver medal in the 2009 Air New Zealand Wine awards. 13% alc. $14.95. 13Feb2010.

Vavasour Awatere Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Golden in colour, custard and biscuit on the nose and fruit forward in the palate with smoky oak and lovely savoury characters. A polished, rounded wine with a sweet citrus infusion and toffee/caramel notes coming through on the finish. Smooth, long and powerful. 14.5% alc. $19.99. 3Nov2010.

Vidal Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Melon and tropical fruit aromas and fruity flavours - shows little influence of oak but has a spicy savoury richness to the finish. 14% alc. $20. 12Jul2010.

Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold in colour with mealy, malty, barrel ferment scents, the palate shows serious concentration and weight. Served chilled the flavours are grilled peach, citrus and, malt biscuits and well-integrated savoury oak on the finish and a flourish of zest and spice. A lovely wine and irresistibly already. 13.5% alc. $26.99. 30Mar2011.
With tantalising Mackintosh toffee scents, this seamless wine has a sweeter profile with fruit well balanced to the savoury oak and an expansive concentrated, warm, spicy, biscuity finish. Served only very slightly chilled, as were all the Top 10 wines, it's absolutely stunning and one of the stars on the night. 14% alc. $24.99 27Apr2011.
The bouquet of smoky French oak has a delicate floral nuance that carries through to the palate to join grilled stonefruit, sweet nutty oak and lemon biscuit characters. It's mealy and savoury with a smooth, seamless mouthfeel, classy French oak nuances, a fine seam of acidity and a hint of salted caramel on the finish where nougat flavours linger. 100% natural ferment, 40% new oak. 13.5% alc. $24.99. 8Jun2011.

Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2009 (sc) The bouquet offers up Mackintosh's toffees and some intriguing spicy notes too – there's surely some wild yeast influence here too. Bright and lifted in the palate, the acidity plays a starring role from start to finish with melon and a touch of tropical fruit at times wanting to take over the lead. Lovely savoury, freshly baked vanilla biscuit flavours come through too. The finish is full, fat and concentrated with a mealy deliciousness lingering. 14% alc. $29.99 27Apr2011.
Immediately the rich full-bodied flavours excite the mouth. It's bright, clean and lifted with tropical fruit nuances, hints of grapefruit and malty / caramel cream notes supported by toasty oak. It flows seamlessly across the palate and the finish is long with nectarine and tropical fruit lingering in harmony. A beautiful wine with layers of complexity and finesse. 14% alc. $29.99. 8Jun2011.

Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (sc) After the tantalising aromas of macadamia nuts and lemon bread, this wine initially seems quite lean and nutty with a creamy malolactic influence to balance the flinty acidity. Slightly grainy in texture with a salty savoury undercurrent and nuances of stonefruit and citrus, it compounds in richness becoming quite magnificent with a lasting and memorable finish. Excellent wine. 14% alc. $26.99 27Apr2011.

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Auckland Chardonnay 2009 (sc) The aroma is quite nutty and in the palate there's a creamy, hazelnut, wild yeast, malolactic influence coming through. Quite elegant and nutty to start, it compounds in richness and flavour and becomes quite concentrated and creamy with spicy oak and lingering flavours of caramelised peaches. Sophisticated. Classy. Really, really nice. 14% alc. $29.99 27Apr2011.
The delicate nougat scents have a creamy malty inflection and this creamy malty character infiltrates the palate, which is smooth, seamless, nutty and savoury with a spicy lift to the finish. There's 70% natural yeast ferment, but not as noticeable as in the Vidal, and the fruit is rather more restrained, perhaps pear and white peach. 13% alc. $29.99. 8Jun2011.

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2009 (sc) The aromas are smoky and a little funky with a hint of caramel and a suggestion of rolling in the hay. The flavours have a salty, savoury, nutty undercurrent balanced beautifully by juicy grilled stonefruits, mealy characters and classy French oak. With an uplifting brightness to the creamy finish, it's all elegance and class. 14% alc. $29.99 27Apr2011.

Waimea Nelson Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Full of tantalising buttery aromas and spicy French oak flavours, this gorgeous toasty Chardonnay has a rich mealy undercurrent and hints of citrus, peaches and cream. 14.5% alc. $16.99. 15Sep2010.
Bright citrine with appealing scents of perfumed oak, melon, tropical fruit and caramel that follow through the smooth, rounded palate that's full of toasty oak with spicy zest and a long creamy, butterscotch finish. This gets better and better every time we taste it and it can be well chilled too. 14.5% alc. $17.99. 3Nov2010.
Citrine gold with a bold, smoky oak aroma infused with vanilla and butterscotch and rich, toasty, oaky flavours with a warm wheaty influence, a citrussy brightness and a creamy rounded finish. 14.5% alc. $17.99. 19Oct2011.

West Brook Barrique Fermented Marlborough/Auckland Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Hints of butterscotch on the nose and malty, creamy flavours with soft spicy oak, hints of citrus and melon and stonefruit and a long last finish. A blend of 66% Marlborough and 33% Waimauku fruit, fans of the 2007 triple Trophy winner take note - this is from the same delicious mould. 13.5% alc. $18.99. 2Jun2010.
Light gold-coloured with butterscotch aromas and flavours of spicy savoury oak, creme caramel and toast. A 'simply delicious' Chardonnay that's smooth and seamless with concentrated stonefruit and tropical fruit on the lasting finish. A 'must by' for those that loved the stunning, triple Trophy-winning 2007. 13.5% alc. $18.99. 3Nov2010.

Whitehaven Marlborough Chardonnay 2009 (sc) Light gold coloured, creamy and nutty with mouthfilling flavours of citrus, white peach, French oak, caramel and a zing to the savoury malty finish. Very appealing with its fine seamless texture and the flavours flesh out and linger. 13% alc. $17.99. 7Sep2011.

Babich Irongate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (c) Quite delicate scented, even perhaps a little floral with just a hint of spicy oak to the bouquet, but full of flavour with apricot, citrus, lemon and melon, honeyed oak and a savoury, creamy veneer. Beurre noisette and peach linger deliciously on the long, finely textured finish. A 'once iconic' label that is truly back to form. 14.5% alc. $30.99. 9Feb2011.

Bouldevines Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold. Youthful, slightly estery scent - pear drop, bubble gum, a little floral. A fruit-driven wine with subtle oak, a savoury backbone, a touch of citrus and apricot emerging on the tropical fruit finish - becoming richer and more complex with time with a hint of caramel on the lingering finish. 14% alc. $27. 12Jul2010.

Boundary Vineyards Tukituki Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A light-gold coloured, juicy, ripe fruited, peachy Chardonnay with a savoury, leesy backbone. On the nose it's all fruit with little influence of oak despite that it has been barrel fermented in Hungarian oak, 25% new. In the palate it's ripe and clean, becoming quite mealy and savoury on the finish with a hint of creamy caramel and the peach and apricot-like fruit balanced by moderate acidity. 13.5% alc. $19.95. 16/20. 26Mar2009.

Cable Bay Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Lashings of nutty oak on the nose. Powerful and rich with smoky oak in the palate. Something quite interesting in the fruit depth - exotic fruit - starfruit, melon - and lots of leesy, nutty influences. Barrel fermented in French oak with 20% wild ferment. Tasty. 14% alc. $35. 15Oct2010.

Cape Campbell Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A juicy, tropical fruited Chardonnay with a light savoury backbone and hints of banana and the oak that is so very subtle. An easy-going style on the light side of medium bodied, it's clean, fruity and bright. 3 stars. $20. 26Apr2009.

Catalina Sounds Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Seems like a big, fat, buttery style on first tasting with spicy oak, honey and savoury lees nuances - but there's a pleasing restraint to the wine with citrus characterising the dry, flinty finish. A brilliant match to a decadent butter poached crayfish ravioli. 10Mar2010.

Charles Wiffen Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A rich gold colour with toasty oak and butter caramel aromas, this smooth creamy wine has rich, brash, oaky flavours with a malty, mealy influence and fruit in the tropical fruit and stonefruit spectrum with a hint of grapefruit. There's an oily veneer to the finish and butter caramel and toasty oak flavours linger. 13.5% alc. $19.99. 9Dec2009.

Church Road Cuve Series Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light yellow gold in colour, this has a tight, malt-infused aroma and powerful flavours. It's rich, creamy, spicy and harmonious with fruit in the stonefruit spectrum, a flinty undercurrent and a long dry finish. Beautiful wine. 14% alc. $29.99. 5May2010.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A more restrained yet more sophisticated style when tasted immediately after the Saint Clair. This fine-textured wine has aromas of smoky French oak, nuts, fig and citrus and a mealy undercurrent to the harmonious stonefruit flavours with richness and roundness to the long savoury finish where a nougat-like sweetness lingers. A classy wine with good palate weight. 14% alc. $34.99. 10Mar2010.
Moderately deep gold colour. A rich, fat, oily Chardonnay with an alluring smoky oak and ripe stonefruit bouquet, the flavours brim with spicy French oak, peaches, apricot and cream, and build to an intensely rich and long mouthfilling finish with a savoury complexity from a stylish winemaking regime. 14% alc. $29.99. 11Aug2010.
Light creamy gold in colour, this beautiful Chardonnay has rich, mealy barrel-ferment aromas when served chilled with a wild yeast richness to the scent and caramelised peaches too. A seamless wine in the mouth, it is full-bodied, concentrated and delicious with spicy savoury French oak, toasted baguette, malt, nuts, fig and citrus and hints of caramel as the lasting flavours linger. Total class. 14% alc. $29.99. 22Sep2010.

Clearview Beachhead Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light lemon gold. This is a lighter style Chardonnay with oak seemingly secondary to the abundant apricot and melon scents, but it's reasonably oaky to the taste with a smooth texture and a creamy mealy backbone. Buttered toast lingers on the finish but the fruit is the winner on the day. 14% alc. $22.99. 17Jun2009.

Cognoscenti Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 (sc) ”Oaky, smoky, hokey pokey” is the new slogan for First Glass style Chardonnays and yes, this is oaky and smoky with lots of hokey pokey. It's also smooth and creamy with spicy oak, grilled pineapple and stonefruit and simply oozing ripeness and drinkability. Made by Waimata Wines, it was one of only 11 gold medal winners at the Gisborne International Chardonnay Challenge this year. 14.2% alc. $14.99. 8Jul2009.

Coopers Creek Swamp Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Gold in colour with strong cedary oak flavours, spice and nectarine, the fruit explodes in the palate with a seam of citrus and there's a bready richness to the savoury finish. 14% alc. $25.99. 28Apr2010.

Craggy Range Seven Poplars Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Oily and creamy with a distinctive butterscotch caramel flavour, this is a smooth, ripe, juicy wine with a smoky aura and hints of fig and nougat. Very tasty and slips down easily. Totally hits the spot. Very, very good. 14% alc. $24.99. 14Jul2010.

Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2008 - Hawkes Bay (sc) Light gold with nutty, citrussy scents that have a mealy nuance. After the Cloudy Bay this is such a lean, flinty wine with focussed acidity and a creamy lactic undercurrent, filling out to a rounded, spicy nutty finish. Seems a little similar to the 'Pania' tasted last month in the Cuisine Top 10 Chardonnays - if you liked that wine, you will love this. 14% alc. $26.99. 19May2010.

Crossroads Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This light, zesty style of Chardonnay is pale gold in colour with a nutty character to the scent and citrus, nectarine and delicate salted caramel flavours. It builds in richness in the palate and the finish is smooth. 14.5% alc. $16.99. 2Dec2009.

Cypress Terraces Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold. Creamy oak and butterscotch aromas and smooth creamy textured flavours of butterscotch, savoury oak, spice peaches and cream. Lovely harmony throughout with a seamless flow and a punchy vibrancy to the juicy finish. Yum. 14.5% alc. $31.99. 16Sep2009.
Fig, nougat, nuts and grilled stonefruit scents introduce this mouthfilling rendition of delicious full-boded Chardonnay. With great mouthfeel and richness, flavours of toasty stonefruit and stonefruit and a funky allure, this wine is still drinking beautifully a year after its gold medal win. 14.5% alc. Screwcap. $30.99. 1Sep2010.

Dry River Martinborough Chardonnay 2009 (c) A very appealing bouquet of sweet oak and sweet fruit with a nutty mealy influence coming through. In the palate it's spicy and savoury, nutty and creamy and while quite oak dominant with a powerful mealy undercurrent, delectable juicy peach and nectarine fruit balances the winemaking components beautifully. Already delicious. Next day: A subtle hint of lemon verbena now permeates the aroma of this lovely creamy wine with nutty influences to the fore and a delicate citrus infusion. With time in the bottle the oak has integrated beautifully. A really gorgeous wine, seamless, moreish, classy and balanced. 13 % alc. $52.00. 11Oct2010.

Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold. Melon on nose with just a hint of barrel ferment. Fruit driven palate, creamy in texture with mealy nuances coming through with a backing of vanilla custard and zesty spices. Tropical fruit and nectarine fruit is harmonious to the backbone and the finish is long. Not a big oaky number, just lots of Chardonnay fruit character. "Really nice," said Neil. 14% alc. $24.50. 22Oct2009.

Felton Road Block 2 Central Otago Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This fresh young wine is light gold in colour with a nutty aroma reminiscent of the sparkling wine but the flavours are rich and mouthfilling with citrus and stone fruit and a thread of tropical fruit too. There's spicy oak and lemony, leesy, almost bready flavours and loads of caramelised pineapple on the rounded finish. A very stylish wine. 13.5% alc. $47.99. 4Aug2010.

Felton Road Central Otago Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light yellow gold. A little soapy, floral on the nose with a nutty infusion to the subtle French oak. Flinty and nutty to start with citrus and apple, a hint of lemon blossom and honeysuckle - an unusually floral style with a touch of sweetness and some mineral salts too - perhaps a flicker of Chablis before fleshing out to a creamy finish with a touch of French polish. A wine for the cellar right now. 14% alc. $36.99. 22Jul2009.
Creamy, mellow scents lead into a moderately oaky palate with a buttery layer and a hint of caramel. The texture is beautifully slippery, there's lots of fruit - melon, citrus, stonefruit - and the wine has a serious earthy/mealy/malty depth. 14% alc. $36.99. 21Oct2009.

Frizzell Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Fermented in tanks and transferred to barrel, there's little oak influence on the nose and it's quite creamy / lightly oily textured. Medium-bodied in palate weight, the gentle oak component comes through with a butterscotch sweetness and the peachy fruit is juicy, fleshy and fresh with a zesty, sweet orange tang to the lingering finish where the yeast lees aging has added a creamed nut complexity. 13% alc. $22. 3.5 stars. 2Mar2009.

Goldridge Premium Reserve Barrique Matured Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Bright light gold. Mealy, barrel ferment aromas and ripe creamy flavours - there's citrus, stonefruit and butterscotch with a light touch of toasty oak and the finish is dry with savoury intonations. 13.5% alc. $22. 23Apr2009.

Hunters Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This pale gold wine is a light fruity expression with a creamy texture, a nutty backbone from the aging on yeast lees and when chilled, oak seems to play a very minor role. The bright fresh fruity flavours are in the grapefruit, white peach and white melon spectrum and the oak pushes through add subtle toastiness to the finish. 14% alc. $19.50. 2Dec2009.

Hyperion Helios Matakana Chardonnay 2008 (D) Oak adds complexity to this light gold coloured, medium to full-bodied, fruit driven style. Fruit is in the peach and tropical fruit spectrum and there's something reminiscent of freshly baked bread crusts with a scraping of butter. A touch of lemon zest adds brightness. Can imagine this would be super with scallops or white fish fillets served with a buerre blanc. 14% alc. $25. 7 Nov 2009.

Jackson Estate Shelter Belt Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Very light in colour, this wine seems very fruity on first tasting with the oak playing a subtle role in the background. It reminds me of both the Hunter's and the Cape Campbell from the vintage - these gold medal wines light and fruity to start with oak having little influence but getting richer and richer in the glass. There's a nice creamy, nutty yeast-lees barrel ferment influence coming through and tangy citrus characters characterise the finish. Matched to a fettuccine with a creamy Carbonara sauce, the acidity in the wine cuts through the fatness of the sauce. 13.5 % alc. $22.50. 29Dec2009.

Karikari Estate Calypso Chardonnay 2008 (c) Made from fruit grown on the Karikari Estate Vineyard in Northland, this is moderate gold in colour with creamed nut, butter caramel and stonefruit aromas that carry through to the smooth, harmonious palate. A full-bodied, powerful, bold, buttery, toasty oak style with a savoury richness to the delicious peach and tropical fruit flavours - and it can be well chilled too. 12.8% alc. $14.99. 29Sep2010.

Kidnapper Cliffs Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009 (c) Rich and powerfully scented with creamy oak and a funky wild yeast infusion to the scent. Nutty and savoury in palate, this big rich wine seems quite 'tannic' at this stage of its life and is pleading to be cellared for a while. Next day: Rich and mealy with more powerful nutty flavours than the Dry River. Has developed nicely and the tannins that dominated on first opening have simply dissolved. Smooth, rich, powerful and almost buttery with lovely nut and stonefruit flavours on the lingering finish with the funky wild yeast characters asserting their presence. A 'big wine' in every sense. 13 % alc. $45.00. 11Oct2010.

Kina Beach Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A little more golden in colour, this is a rich, fat wine with aromas of smoke, nuts, hints of grapefruit and oatmeal, and plenty of buttered toast influence to the flavours with additional complexity that comes from bottle age. It's fleshy with a peachy disposition; citrussy notes that are sophisticated and well balanced; and an expansive finish that is mealy, nutty and long. 14% alc. $28.99. 27Apr2011.

Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2008 - Kumeu (sc) Smoky nutty aromas with a hint of melon. Quite Chablis in style with little influence of oak, it has nutty mealy flavours infused with grape and hints of tropical fruit and a lightly creamy texture underpinned by a dry flinty backbone. The mouthfeel is what makes this wine stand out and it grows in perfume, stature, richness and power. 13% alc. $13.99. 9Jun2010.

Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2008 - Kumeu (sc) There’s a more definitive citrus tang to this smoky nutty wine with layers of stone fruit and fine oak on the nose and you immediately sense the complexity that this wine exudes when you taste it. With citrus zest, smoky savoury oak and a flinty undercurrent to the well-balanced buttery backbone, it's bright and fresh with a very long dry finish. 13.5% alc. $24.99. 9Jun2010.

Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay 2008 - Kumeu (sc) Perfumed with citrus blossom and grapefruit zest, this ripe, rich wine has bright, lifted, fine citrussy flavours with a hint of butter caramel adding softness and creaminess to the mouthfeel. Tight, elegant, dry and nutty with pretty mandarin characters that sing, it expands on the palate to become round and full with toasty oak and stonefruit complementing the sweet citrus finish. 13.5% alc. $41.99. 9Jun2010.

Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2008 - Kumeu (sc) Very appealing savoury, mealy and delicately smoky aromas infused with stonefruit, lemon verbena and grapefruit zest, the grapefruit zest is even more pronounced in the palate. Dry, rich, steely yet warm, it expands in richness and power with citrus-like acidity driving the long, rich, dry finish with mealy flavours and savoury oak adding to its overall allure. 13.5% alc. $41.99. 9Jun2010.

Kumeu River Mate's Chardonnay 2008 - Kumeu (sc) Nutty aromas with hints of stonefruit - the scents are restrained compared to the others. Rich and powerful in the palate with complex, mouthfilling mealy flavours infused with finely toasted nutty oak, citrus, nuts, nougat and pear with a malty richness to the lasting finish and a vinous sweetness coming through. There's an extra dimension and weight to this wine that cones from the old vines, and the texture is simply sublime. 13.5% alc. $46.99. 9Jun2010.

Lochiel Estate Mangawhai Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold colour, peaches and creamy aroma and delicious ripe stonefruit flavours of peach, yellow plum and nectarine with lots of spicy oak to complete the package. A big rich creamy wine with well-balanced underlying acidity. Nice. 14.5% alc. $24.99. 19Aug2009.
There's more gold to the colour of this smoky, savoury, nutty-scented Chardonnay and it's bigger, rich and creamier, yet at the same time a more 'elegant' style. Add caramel corn, peach, nectarine and toasty oak, it really is a very smart drop. 14.5% alc. $24.99. 12Jan2011.

Mahi Twin Valleys Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Smoky, savoury with a nutty nougat finesse to the scent. There's a delicate touch to the texture of this full-bodied wine - it dances on the tongue and coats it with its light as a feather twirls. There's depth and concentration with lovely stonefruit and creamy oak and a delicate zestiness to the finish. V. v. good. On the finish it is all peach, peach, peach. Yum. 13.5 % alc. $34.00. 8Mar2010.

Main Divide Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2008 (sc) After the subtle smoke and savoury scents infused with grapefruit, it seems a very fruity wine at first, quite understated in its oak regime, but the creamy richness of the malo in the background adds complexity to the ripe peachy flavours and grapefruit brims through the long, rounded finish. Becomes more and more powerful with every sip. Quite delicious. 13.5 % alc. $19.95. 20Nov2010.

Man O War Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Golden in colour with a hint of zest to the toasty aroma, this big, rich, powerful wine is totally flamboyant - a style that lovers of big, bold oaky wines will love. Creamy and buttery with a mealy undercurrent and concentrated ripe peach taming the spicy oak then an exotic citrussy brightness to the toasty finish and a long, creamy, caramelised stonefruit aftertaste. Beautifully rounded with gorgeous mouthfeel. Excellent. 14.5% alc. $22.99. 28Apr2010.

Martinborough Vineyards Martinborough Terrace Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold. Big, rich, funky style. Caramel, sweet oak, thick texture, spice, toast, nougat, full on, very powerful. 13.5 % alc. $40.00. 8Mar2010.
Moderate gold in colour, this rich, sophisticated Chardonnay is mealy and creamy with a touch of caramel corn, hints of nectarine, juicy melon and a very long finish. The smooth, seamless, mouthcoating texture is sublime, the oak is smoky and integrated and the whole package emanates total class. 13.5% alc.. $29.99. 6Oct2010.

Matahiwi Holly Wairarapa Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Chardonnay it is. Most definitely. Creamy with lightly toasted smoky, oak, peach and nectarine. Deep and tasty, yet spicy and bright - even a nuance of pineapple perhaps. But it is the savoury characters that win the flavour stakes on the day. Jane Cooper is really crafting some lovely distinctive wines from the Wairarapa and surrounding regions for the Matahiwi and Alexia labels. 13.5% alc. $25.95. 17Oct2009.

Maven Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This light yellow coloured number seems quite mature. The aroma is fat and leesy with a spicy oak infusion and the flavour is malty with salted nuts and the sweetness of ripe stonefruit. Oak and acidity are well integrated and the finish is rounded. 13.5% alc. $18.99. 5Oct2011.

Mission Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light yellow gold with aromas of caramel and spice that are a little subdued to start and flavours of grapefruit and stonefruit with a richness to the texture. A wine that doesn't overpower but makes its presence gently felt with a long finish with juicy fruit salad aftertaste. Fabulous buy. 13% alc. $12.99. 2Dec2009.

Mission Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A lovely medium-bodied Hawkes Bay chardonnay with savoury French oak, a creamy texture, peach and melon fruit and a smoky nuance to the spicy finish. Lots of mealy, leesy characters add to the complexity and it can take chilling too. 13.5% alc. $19.99. 30Sep2009.
Light gold. Hints of butterscotch on the nose and creamy flavours with a touch of caramel underpinned with citrus and a rounded toasty finish. Very nice right now. 13.5% alc. $19.99. 5May2010.

Montana Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Very light gold. Fruit aromas with little indication of oak. Light, fresh, fruity flavour with lime sherbet and a fizzy fruit lolly character. Bright, fresh, zest and summery - and to be consumed on such carefree days. 13% alc. $17.95 (full price). 10Dec2009.

Montana 'Showcase Series' Stuart Block Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Bright light gold with lemon-infused toasty oak scents, this is quite tight on entry when served chilled but opens up nicely to reveal a creamy backbone to the citrus flavours with juicy melon and a tropical depth to the full-flavoured, creamy, toasty oak finish. 13% alc. $13.99. 26Jan2011.

Morton Estate Private Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A new release, this smooth and seamless wine is golden coloured with citrus, tropical fruit and savoury, barrel fermented flavours with a lovely nutty oak sweetness and a rounded finish and just a touch of tingly spice. 14% alc. Screwcap. $15.99. 26Aug2010.
This light-gold coloured, soft, rounded Chardonnay really hits the easy-drinking spot with its mellow toasty oak, caramel and stone fruit scents and savoury, spicy, zesty flavours wrapped up in a smooth creamy texture with a touch of malt and a warm toasty finish. 14% alc. $16.99.. 12Jan2011.
Golden coloured with a peach and toast aroma and sweet-fruited, fat, full flavours of sizzled butter, stonefruit, toast and smoky bacon with a smooth delivery all the way. 14% alc. $16.99 20Apr2011.

Mt Difficulty Central Otago Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Citrine bright in the glass, quite nutty and restrained at first with a smoky flinty undercurrent, it compounds in richness with stone fruit and citrus and a hint of toast to the long, savoury finish. A stylish complexity has been introduced with that bit of bottle age. 14% alc. $34.99. 24Aug2011.

Mudbrick Reserve Waiheke Is Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A powerful wine with grapefruit and struck flint the key aromatics and strong leesy, malty, barrel fermented flavours with plenty of sweet citrus brimming through and a smoky savoury finish. A big wine with some oak tannin and butterscotch nuances, it really needs a big Burgundy styled glass for utmost enjoyment. 14.5% alc. $35.99. 18Nov2009.

Murdoch James Martinborough Blue Rock Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Bright, zesty and spicy with fresh tropical fruit and stone fruit with well balanced citrus-like acidity and a pleasing mealy savouriness from aging on yeast lees, this is a light to medium-bodied alternative to Pinot Gris - and better than many of those often far too neutral wines. 3.5 stars for quality but at full price, far too expensive. 13.5% alc. $27. 25Apr2009.

Neudorf Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A savoury, nutty wine, slightly oily, or perhaps glycerolic in texture and a deep, creamed nut flavour with tropical fruit, pineapple, apricot and biscuit and a peachy character to the finish. A sensational wine already and makes you wonder just how good Neudorf's top tier 'Moutere' will be. 13.5% alc. $29.00. 4Dec2009.

Omaka Springs Falveys Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 (sc) Yellow gold colour. Toasty aromas with stonefruit and delicate tropical fruit scents and fresh, fruity flavours with a lightly creamy texture, a nutty mealy backbone, a zing of citrus and a spicy oak toastiness to the tingly finish. Can be served well chilled, as this is how we tasted it. 14% alc. $15.99. 3Feb2010.

Onyx Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Bright light gold with malt, toast, caramel cream and grilled stonefruit scents, this wine tastes just superb after 90 minutes chilling. It's soft, rounded and creamy with intense stonefruit and citrus that really stands up to the full-flavoured spicy oak, while the butterscotch on the finish is long and lingering. 14% alc. $16.99. 19Jan2011.

Palliser Martinborough Chardonnay 2008 A creamy, mealy, enticing barrel-ferment aroma with a touch of savouriness adding to its allure. Still very youthful but shows its charm with its leesy, mealy, savoury barrel-fermented flavours and a well balanced toasty richness with sizzled butter and nutty caramel flavours persisting well while a peaching sweetness infuses the finish. 14% alc. $28. 23Feb2010.
A blend of Mendoza and Clone 95 grapes with nine months in French oak on lees, this is a lovely creamy Chardonnay with toasty oak, stonefruit and savoury mealy flavours and a refreshing but very subtle hint of citrus and tarragon on the finish. It is melt-in-the-mouth Chardonnay with depth and richness and a seamless texture. Sizzled butter persists and a peachy sweetness lingers. 13.5% alc. $29 - $38. 13Feb2011.

Palliser Martinborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A creamy, mealy, enticing barrel-ferment aroma with a touch of savouriness adding to its allure. Still very youthful but shows its charm with its leesy, mealy, savoury barrel-fermented flavours and a well balanced toasty richness with sizzled butter and nutty caramel flavours persisting well while a peaching sweetness infuses the finish. 14% alc. $28. 23Feb2010.
A lovely creamy Chardonnay with toasty oak, stone fruit and savoury mealy flavours and a refreshing and very subtle nuance of citrus and tarragon on the finish. This is melt in the mouth chardonnay with depth and richness and a seamless texture. When tasted with fresh peach, the malty richness of the chardonnay is quite sublime. 14% alc. $37.70. 13Feb2011.

Pleasant Valley 'Yelas' Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A much richer, fatter wine that's more golden in colour and super smooth in texture with a smoky oak scent and a distinctive salty, spicy, zesty tang to the flavour with lashings of nectarine, melon and passionfruit, creamy oak, hints of butterscotch and a powerful savoury finish. 13.5% alc. $16.99. 3Nov2010.

Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold, clear and bright in the glass. A hint of oak spice amongst the peaches and cream of the bouquet. Slightly phenolic in palate with acidity that is crisp and fresh and just a little biting. Fruit is in citrus / tropical fruit spectrum and there's a biscuity complexity but oak is quite dominant on the finish and the aftertaste is a little sour and bitter. Seems to be in a closed phase. 14.5% alc. $25. 16Aug2009.
Lemon gold with a lime glint. Lots of oak-derived scent with a stonefruit overtone. Rich and fat to the taste with oak the upfront characters fading in its woody demeanour to become quite nutty and savoury with tingly citrus zest acidity tempered a little by the caramel cream that emerges on the finish with stonefruit flavours lingering. A full-bodied style that needs food - bacon wrapped scallops would do the trick. 14.5 % alc. $25.00. 30Dec2009.
Light gold coloured. Toasted hazelnut aromas and soft creamy flavours with a touch of butterscotch coating the stone fruit and tropical fruit. It’s very dry with well balanced underlying acidity and toasty nuances to the savoury finish. 14.5% alc. $19.99. 10Feb2010.

Sacred Hill Barrel Fermented Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Moderate gold in colour - quite coloured for its age (and deeper than an accompanying 2007 Marlborough chardonnay tasted beside it. Initially high-toned and citrussy, it settles down with stonefruit and spice and a creamy, mlf backbone. Seems far too young with bubble gum esters - it needs some integration time. 13.5% alc. 1.06 $20.90. 10May2009.

Sacred Hill Halo Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold colour. Quite creamy, mealy and nutty with a slightly oily, buttery texture. Lots of citrus, mainly grapefruit and lemon, even slightly lemon honeyish with savoury winemaking characters coming through on the finish. Seems like it need more time because as it opens up in the glass, stonefruit emerges to temper the dominant citrus. Do not over chill. 13.5% alc. $25.90. 3Dec2009.

Saint Clair Premium Series Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A very appealing Chardonnay with a toasty caramel aroma and smooth, creamy, rounded, savoury flavours studded with oak spice and delicious citrus, melon and tropical fruit. There's a youthful vibrancy to the wine and a lingering impression of butterscotch. Very easy to enjoy. 13% alc. $17.99. 10Mar2010.
Light yellow gold with a toasty aura to the bouquet and ripe, creamy, stonefruit and spice flavours with an accent of sweet citrus and butterscotch on the toasty finish. Surprisingly good with several gold medals to it’s name. 13% alc. $17.99. 28Apr2010.

Saint Clair Pioneer Series Block 11 Cell Block Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This is a completely different style with a bouquet of nuts and figs infusing into mealy, malty, biscuity scents and toasty oak pulsating through the citrussy palate with stonefruit fleshing out the finish. Rich, juicy and long. 13.5% alc. $29.99. 9Feb2011.

Saints Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 (sc) moderate yellow gold - actually the colour is quite yellow for such a young wine. A fresh fruity number with a fragrance of tropical fruit and nutty oak that carries through to the juicy palate where there's lots of pineapple and citrus zest too. Oak sits gently in the background and savoury, mealy nuances add complexity. Easy going medium-bodied style with plenty of drink now appeal. 16.5/20. 13% alc. $19.95. 27Jun2009.

Seifried Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Pale gold. Malty, honeyed oak aromas with a hint of citrus. Rich and savoury to the taste with spicy oak, grilled stonefruit and flavours reminiscent of muesli with cashew and caramel adding to the complexity. Served chilled, as this sample was, the grapefruit-like acidity is enhanced but it becomes fatter as it warms up and the finish is rich, toasty and long. 14% alc. $16.99. 6May2009.

Selaks Winemaker's Favourite Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light lustrous gold. Peach, melon and cashew on the nose and rich and creamy flavours with plenty of succulent peach and melon fruit, toasty oak and a creme caramel finish. Very appealing, drink now style. 13.5% alc. $21. 28May2009.

Seresin Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Fruit-driven aromas with a hint of smoky oak and a subtle bready richness. Savoury, zesty and powerful with a silky, seamless palate and a rich, creamy flavour with butterscotch and melon pushing through to linger on the finish. There's a lovely fruity concentration and this wine is offering delicious drinking right now. Natural ferment in French oak (25% new) with 11 months in barrel and mlf. 13.5 alc. $29.00. 5Oct2010.

Seresin Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Fruity aromatics with a pineapple infusion to the sweet, bready, wild yeast scents. There's a touch of butterscotch to the flavour and loads of citrus zestiness that lean more towards grapefruit. A little grainy in texture and masses of oak, this is a wine that is made to improve with age and it begs for a little more cellaring right now. Natural ferment in French oak (25% new) with 11 months in barrel and mlf. 14 alc. $39.00. 5Oct2010.

Sileni The Lodge Hawkes Bay Chardonay 2008 (sc) Yellow gold. Creamy, toasty, nutty scents. Youthful, spicy, leesy in palate. plenty of acidity. Good palate weight and mouthfeel with a toasted stonefruit finish. Pleasing combination of concentrated stone, citrus and tropical fruit and winemaking savouriness. Good persistence of flavour a hallmark of a very good wine. Neil likes. I think it could be a little more chilled. 13.5 % alc. $32.95. 8Mar2010.

Soho Carter Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Medium gold. On the nose it's quite smoky and just a little savoury with a hint of a salty tang to the scent. This is a strange wine, a nutty wine with hints of marzipan and raisins, a lean finish and a slightly rancid butter aftertaste. This wine polarised the Cuisine panel and polarised the First Glass tasters too - there was talk of bottle variation in the room. Named for Maximus Carter, the vineyard dog. 14% alc. $35.99. 28Apr2010.

Spinyback Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Creamy on nose, apple and peach in palate, Spice, leesy and zesty with initially little influence of oak, it becomes quite nutty and rich, morphing into a full-bodied powerful wine with juicy tropical fruit and a creamy finish. Needs decanting for best results. An awesome value for money proposition. 14.5% alc. $14.90. 5Apr2009.
When this is tasted at room temperature, it's bright and fresh with a smooth creamy texture and a butterscotch complexity. The juicy tropical fruit sings while oak strums away in the background. But serve it chilled and the oak moves into the foreground and displays its toasty veneer yet always with that beautiful balance of fruit. 14.5% alc. $15.99. 30Sep2009.
There's a richness to the light yellow gold colour to this bright, fresh, juicy wine with tropical fruit scents and grilled peach, caramel and nutty oak flavours, a citrussy finish and smoky oak in the background. 14.5% alc. $15.99. 2Dec2009.

Spy Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) This wine is delicious when chilled. There's a hint of smoke on the nose with citrus and wheatmeal notes and it is fresh to the taste with a toasty, mealy richness, a nice spine of creamy French oak and a bright fruity finish. There's a savoury note that balances the citrus and tropical fruit well. A tasty wine, medium to full-bodied in style. 90% barrel fermented with 50% wild yeast fermentation and partial malo-lactic fermentation. 13% alc. $19.90. 16Jan2010.

Spy Valley Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 (sc) An immediate impression of sweet fruit in the palate - apple, citrus, orange sherbet, and a hint of pineapple. Light to medium-bodied in palate weight and well rounded with a creamy texture and lots of juicy appeal. 3.5 stars. 13.5% alc. $17. 25Apr2009.

Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Stonefruit, nutty oak and creamy yeast lees, barrel ferment scents. Gorgeous ripe, rounded flavours of stonefruit, cashew and creamy oak. A deliciously drinkable Chardonnay that's creamy and toasty. A perfect match to fillet mignon – in particular the bacon. 14% alc. $26.95. 8Aug2009.

Te Mania Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Ripe fruit absolutely brims through this light gold wine. Pineapple, peach, rock melon and citrus with a nutty undercurrent and a subtle savoury oak backbone. A well balanced, juicy fresh drink with lots of appeal. 14% alc. $19.99. 4Dec2009.

Te Mania Reserve Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) The oak is much more restrained than in previous versions of this wine and personally I like the oak regime in this wine - it has impact without overpowering. It is rich (but not overly rich), mealy, savoury and nutty with that fruit seen in the estate wine trying to escape. Later I detect grilled stonefruit and very subtle pineapple, figs and even a suggestion of coconut. 14% alc. $27.99. 4Dec2009.

Te Mata Elston Chardonnay 2008 – Hawkes Bay (D) Light yellow gold. On the nose it's quite tightly bound at this stage of life - delicately smoky with nut bread and hints of peach. Quite nutty in the palate too, nutty and savoury with orange peel, hints of tropical fruit, nectarine and a creamy, yeast lees influence with spicy French oak flavours that comes in waves. Texture is fine and everything seems beautifully in harmony although it will become bigger and richer over the next 3-4 years. 13.5% alc. $33.99. 5Aug2009.
Lightly chilled, as the wine was served on the night, is exactly the right temperature to enjoy this iconic wine. On first tasting it's big, rich and creamy with beautifully proportioned oak creating a harmonious layer with the other complex flavours. There's nougat and a hint of peach supported by a savoury, mealy undercurrent with a zing of citrus on the long, bright finish where a creamy peach and tropical fruit sweetness lingers - even a suggestion of pineapple chiffon. This 2008 spent 13 months in barrel, an extra 3 months over recent previous vintages. 13.5% alc. $28.99. 17Mar2010.

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A more savoury, winemaker-influenced style, it's a little tight to start with a hint of grapefruit, among the distinctive citrussy flavours with peach and tropical fruit pushing through and a rich, tangy finish with excellent length. Powerful and flavourful, this gets better and better in the glass and of the two it won the popular vote. 14% alc. $27.99. 14Apr2010.

Vavasour Awatere Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Golden yellow with creamy, mealy, barrel ferment scents - inviting from the outset. A change of tack with this wine, it is savoury and nutty with a salty tang and the allure of the romantic fig. It’s a lean style as it crosses the palate but the flavours are rich, full and lasting. 14.5% alc. $19.99. 28Apr2010.

Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Intensely aromatic with rich, mealy, toasty, barrel fermented scents tinged with nougat and grapefruit - instantly appealing to Chardonnay lovers and the palate of this light golden Chardonnay totally delivers too. A lovely nuts, fig and nougat style that's ultra-creamy in texture with spicy oak, juicy stonefruit sweetness and a caramel cream finish. Beautifully balanced, seamless and dangerously drinkable! 14% alc. $30.99. 1Dec2010.

Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold. Lovely creamed cashew nut scent. Beautifully balanced palate - nothing dominates - lovely fruit weight - citrus, tropical fruit - hints of caramel and a touch of sweetness to the finish. Perhaps it is more sweet than savoury and not sure if I like that. A it of citrus emerges on the lightly leesy finish and the lasting memory is zesty and bright. Will take chilling. 14 % alc. $29.99. 8Mar2010.
Bright gold coloured with smoky, savoury, classy oak scents, this is a rich wine with a clean citrus infusion, a savoury intonation, nuts and figs and a malty richness to the finish. There's concentrated stonefruit brooding in the background and while the creamy oak is strong and forward, it integrates nicely with lots of swirling. 14% alc. $25.99. 28Apr2010.

Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) A grapefruit aroma characterises this light gold-coloured, sumptuous, satisfying Chardonnay. It’s spicy and malty with stonefruit and caramel and a rich oaky finish. A beautiful drink when served well chilled, as it was on the night, serve in a big glass and enjoy with friends. 14% alc. $31.99 17Nov2010.

Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light yellow gold. Lovely mealy, malty, honey on toast scents with classic Hawkes Bay stonefruit adding to the tantalising allure. On the first taste the oak seems a little dominant but then the fruit comes through and the oak is in harmony to the fleshy peach, melon and citrus flavours. Full-bodied and complex, beautifully balanced, creamy and long, a spiciness comes through on the finish that is very long. Very good now - will be even more beautiful with time. 20% wild ferment. 10 months in French oak. 55% new. 14.5% alc. 20May2009.
Light yellow gold in colour, this beautiful wine entices from the outset with its scent of florals intertwined with nutty French oak and creamy yeast lees and flavours that show skilful winemaking while preserving the fruit. There's citrus and stonefruit with creme brulee and caramel - a barrique ferment chardonnay with power and length. Delicious. 14.5% alc. $25.99. 9Dec2009.
Lovely barrel-ferment aromas with nuances of grapefruit, nougat and stone fruit carry through to the fine textured palate. Spicy and savoury with excellent fruit weight, layers of malty richness, creamy oak and a long dry finish, it is still evolving yet already revealing great potential. 14.5% alc. $25.99. 10Mar2010.

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold in colour with lovely mealy, smoky French oak and hazelnut scents, this is a caramel creme Chardonnay that's fat and toasty with grilled peach and a savoury richness to the finish. Tight yet expressive and can take substantial chilling. 14% alc. $29.99. 6Oct2010.

Waimarie Muriwai Valley Chardonnay 2008 (D) When first opened it has delicate aromatics with hints of butterscotch - it's a creamy, mealy wine with a smooth, seamless texture, a lovely touch of spicy oak, an underpinning of citrus and butterscotch emerging again on the long fine finish. A wine that gets richer and richer in the glass, we successfully matched to a winter warming meal of beef braised in white wine. Next Day: A lovely creamy, mealy wine with a lightly honeyed texture, clean melon and delicate citrus fruit, hints of apricot. A fine, elegant style, building in richness and power. 13 % alc. 4Jul2010.

Waimea Nelson Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Pale straw gold. Earthy, savoury, leesy aromas with a subtle hint of grapefruit. Grapefruit fills the palate in this full-on leesy, barrel-ferment style driven by the underlying acidity with a slightly bitter, savoury finish. Quite dry on the finish with slight reductive notes too. With decanting it becomes quite creamy in the palate with citrus and spice. A medium-bodied, fruit driven style. 14.5% alc. $21.90. 5Apr2009.
Light lemon gold. A peaches and cream Chardonnay on the nose and toasty oak flavours with a creamy oily texture and plenty of citrus and the slightest suggestion of pineapple. The wine has a mealy undercurrent and caramel emerges on the lingering finish. Can definitely take chilling because that's how we had it. 14.5% alc. $16.99. 6Jan2010.
Peach and nectarine fill the bouquet - a touch of butterscotch too and even more butterscotch in the delicious savoury, toasty palate. With lots of polished oak and stonefruit with a hint of nutmeg on the finish it fits the theme well, just do not over chill. 14.5% alc. Screwcap. $15.99. 1Sep2010.

West Brook Barrique Fermented Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Served chilled, this is oaky, toasty, buttery and creamy with a crisp, citrussy freshness. It is fruity yet savoury with juicy stonefruit, lots of creamy French oak and a long, spicy oak finish. 13.4% alc. $16.99. 3Mar2010.
Light gold in colour, this wine seems deceptively light at first, possibly because of its order in the tasting, but it soon shows its power as it builds in the palate. A creamy wine with a citrussy tone, it has juicy stonefruit enhanced by caramel overtones, creamy oak and a bright, spicy finish. 13.4% alc. $17.99. 28Apr2010.

West Brook Waimauku Estate Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light nutty oak scent and rounded creamy flavours with caramel nuances, silky savoury oak and nectarine-like fruit. Medium to full-bodied, expressive and a little reminiscent of the trophy winning 2007 although this vintage is 100% Auckland fruit. Far too easy to drink. We loved it. 13.5 % alc. $28.90. 30Dec2009.
Brilliant gold. Full, rich, fruity aromatics with hints of pineapple and a suggestion of butterscotch, this impression carries through to the full-bodied spicy palate. Texturally complex, it coats the tongue and leaves a rich bready flavour with a fruit bread complexity and spicy grilled peach. Bright. Lively. Very good. 13.5% alc. $25.99. 28Apr2010.

Wild South Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Pale lemon gold. Light fruit style with tropical fruit and citrus aromas. Creamy texture and lightly nutty with spicy oak playing a warm but subtle role in the background. Lovely fruit-filled mouthfilling finish. Great, fresh, summery style. 13% alc. $18.90. 10Dec2009.

Wild Rock Pania Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 (sc) Light gold, with a hint of butterscotch on the nose, this is a creamy, lactic style with a warm presence in the mouth, plenty of spicy oak and a flinty undercurrent to the stonefruit flavours. A little grainy in texture with a long, sweet, ripe fruited smoky finish, perhaps even creme brulee. 14% alc. $17.99. 28Apr2010.