Winemaker Notes
With aromas of mango, tropical fruit, lime and green apple there is a mouth watering acidity complimented with a softening sweetness.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A bit reductive on the nose but with air you are greeted with aromas of white pepper, poppy seed and pears. Medium-bodied with pleasant complexity. Mineral notes mix with rounded citrus and pear notes. Subtle tannins keep it all together. Bright, fresh and seriously tasty.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Occupying the North Island’s East Cape, Gisborne keeps The Bay of Plenty to its northwest and Hawkes Bay on its southwestern side. It is the country’s most distinctive producer of Chardonnay, with heavy investment here until Sauvignon blanc stole the country’s limelight. Gisborne produces soft and charming Chardonnay, boasting stone and tropical fruit flavors.
The region includes a good number of artisanal winemakers but many larger Auckland producers source from Gisborne for their own Chardonnay bottlings.