A classic, generous Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay. An alluring nose of citrus, vanilla and crème brûlée. leads into a full, rich palate of white peaches, bright acidity and layered toasty oak complexity. Will cellar beautifully for up to five years and with careful cellaring up to ten.

Premium grapes were first grown in Te Awanga at the beginning of last century.  The warm coastal climate, gentle sea breezes and the shallow clay soils combine to produce award winning wines of great varietal flavour and finesse.  A combination of machine and handpicked, gently pressed and run to a mixture of new and used French oak barriques and stainless steel tanks for fermentation, of which a portion was wild. The wine rested on lees for ten months where it underwent a full malolactic fermentation in spring.

Rod McDonald Wines is a family-owned wine business born out of a love of making wine and of the place they call home, Hawke’s Bay. Winemaker Rod McDonald spent nine years as winemaker at Vidal Estate in Hawke’s Bay and was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2006. He left later that year with a few ideas about what Hawke’s Bay wines could be like, and started Rod McDonald Wines to prove it.

In 2006 he began searching for great vineyard sites that would eventually supply the grapes to make the great wines. One of Hawke’s Bay’s greatest strengths is its geographical and climatic diversity. The varied landscape provides an environment to grow a number of different varieties for an array of wine styles.

Rod and his team have chosen some of Hawke’s Bay’s greatest vineyard sites from the coast at Te Awanga, to the valley floor at Bridge Pa, and finally their most inland site at Maraekakaho. They grow Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc at the coast and the maritime climate ensures a bright acidity and long growing season. Bridge Pa brings Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as these are the hottest blocks ripening grapes fully. At their highest and most inland vineyard at Maraekakaho, they grow Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Key Facts

How to get this item