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FOXES ISLAND By John Belsham Chardonnay, Marlborough

David Bicknell is a Chardonnay perfectionist with a passion for terroir and contrasts in the characters of different vineyard sites. In the glass: Bright fine straw with a green hue. On the nose: Fabulous purity and lift with ripe, complex stonefruit combining with lees and struck match magic. On the palate: A complex funky monster! It shows tremendous depth and umami being satiny soft throughout with amazing refined power and balance and extraordinary length and persistence. Classy!

Kumeu River Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay is named in honour Maté Barjkovich after he reworked a unique parcel of land in 1990 which was planted to Chardonnay. The resulting wines today are a pure balance between texture and purity. Lifted notes of pear and citrus are complimented by creamy mouthfeel and balanced acid. A fantastic example of a modern new world style.

The wines of Fraser Gallop Estate are intensely flavoured, textured and complex. Only the finest quality French oak barrels are used for all Fraser Gallop Estate wines, with very specific Bordelais coopers used for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends, and Burgundian coopers for the Chardonnay. The complete winemaking process takes place at the estate - picking to vinification to barrel maturation to bottling to cellaring. Fraser Gallop Estate is an estate grown, produced and bottled wine. Flavours of lemon curd and grapefruit with searing length. A wine with clarity and finesse. A tightly focussed and very precise wine showing seamless fruit purity with the lightly toasted French oak very much in the background. Crystalline acidity and a mouth-watering finish complete this Chardonnay.

Louis Latour's Saint-Véran is a wonderful example of the fresh Maconnais style displaying a light yellow colour and a bouquet of musk and toasty brioche aromas. On the palate, this bargain French Chardonnay is rich and powerful yet still with a lively, fresh finish. Going through complete malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats, this southern Burgundian white is the perfect balance for brightness and complexity.

100% Sinapius Estate Grown Chardonnay sourced from 20 year old vines (75%) and their newer ultra close planted vineyard (25%), totalling 5 different chardonnay clones. Very low yields (approx 1 kg/vine or 4 tonne/ha) ensuring perfect ripeness. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, wild yeast fermentation, lees stirring, 12 months maturation in French oak barriques and puncheons (500L), 50% new, 50% 1 year old, all helps to create a highly aromatic, textural wine.

Intense yellow colour with subtle tones olive shiny appearance. Exquisite aroma dominated by tropical fruits, citrus, coconut and nuts. A delicate and correct acidity giving a feeling of freshness. This Andeluna Altitud Chardonnay has a smooth, lingering finish. Serve at 9C. Aged in new French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by at least 8 months in bottle before release. Battonage (stirring of the lees) was carried out during the ageing process.

A fine and quite flinty modern expression of Margaret River Chardonnay. Finer and leaner it might be in some ways, but the unmistakable power and persistence of the region still triumphs. Complex mealy grapefruit and roasted nut characters on the nose, and a deep and richly intense palate power through to the finish.

Paul Scorpo produces a Chardonnay of complexity and character here. Aromas of nectarine, minerals and vanilla bean give way to a mouthfeel of peach and citrus and a lovely acid backbone. A truly full-bodied Chardonnay for those who love their barrel ferment and textured styles.