Sale!

Hawke's Bay Chardonnay

Chardonnay remains one of the world’s most popular wine varietals, and with the unique style and sophistication of Babich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, it’s not hard to see why. By leaving the wine unoaked our winemakers have let the stunning fruit characters to shine, delivering a soft, creamy palate with melon and peach flavours, and a fresh, clean, and dry finish.

TASTING NOTES

Apple and white peach aromas, with lemon and just a touch of cashew. Fresh and juicy with bright citrus notes, slate and apple. Moderately weighted but fleshy, balanced and lingering.

Fruit from the Gimblett Gravels appellation a in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and fermented without oak influence. A small percentage of malolactic fermentation was employed to increase the complexity of the wine. The lightly fined prior to bottling.

A great combination with a variety of foods.

"A classically styled bouquet and palate with flavours of baked goods and peaches, vanilla and smoky wood along with a ground nut leesy quality. Almost full-bodied with a creamy texture and warming alcohol, contrasting acid line and flavours that remain persistent. Tannins and acid work together to deliver a textured mouthfeel with a gentle creamy finish. Balanced and well made with qualities that make drinking today a treat." - 92 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, www.camerondouglasms.com

TASTING NOTES

Peach skin and apple aromas with lemon curd and green apricot. Fresh and spicy.

Creamy entry with apricot and peach, a touch of sultana and some juicy apple. Flavours weighted to the front but a long tail. Lively.

Fruit from the Gimblett Gravels appellation and the Fernhill district in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and fermented without oak influence. A small percentage of malolactic fermentation was employed to increase the complexity of the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

A great combination with a variety of foods.

93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS
92 POINTS - NZ Wine Rater, Sept 2022

"Bright, fresh, fruit forward and primary at this youthful stage. There's lifted aromas of lemon butter, buttercups and creamy notes. Soft, clean, rounded and very pleasant with good concentration and crisp acidity providing freshness and drinkability. Very impressive for an un-oaked style." - 92 POINTS - NZ Wine Rater

TASTING NOTES

A soft peach aroma overlays lime and stone fruits. Floral notes and a hint of spice. Fresh fruited entry of lime and green apricot. Gala apples and melon. Good juicy drive and a crisp mineral finish.

Fruit from the Fernhill district and Gimblett Gravels appellation in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and fermented without oak influence. A small percentage of malolactic fermentation was employed to increase the complexity of the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

A great combination with a variety of foods.

TASTING NOTES

Our unoaked Hawke's Bay Chardonnay has aromas of lemon, melon and nectarine joined by a smoky complexity. The flavour of peach runs throughout the palate with apple, oyster shell and a touch of orange and caramel. Good weight and a soft balance.

Fruit from the Fernhill district and Gimblett Gravels appellation in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and fermented without oak influence. Several yeast strains and a small percentage of malolactic fermentation were employed to increase the complexity of the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

Our unoaked Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay is a versatile wine that will enhance a wide variety of dishes.

"Bold melon and apricot aromas with some peach and spiced-custard notes.  The palate has easygoing ripe-melon flavors."
-JamesSuckling.com, Jan 2021

TASTING NOTES

Gentle aromas of apple and rock melon above lime and nutmeg. Soft entry led by apple and peach. Melon and lemon also evident. A fresh and lush wine with great balance.

Fruit from the Fernhill district and Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels appellations in Hawke’s Bay were pressed into stainless steel tanks and cool fermented without oak influence. Several yeast strains were employed to express differing characters within the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

Our unoaked Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay is a versatile wine that will enhance a wide variety of dishes.

"Drinking well already, this fresh, full-bodied wine is vibrantly fruity, with ripe, stonefruit flavours to the fore, good mouthfeel and texture, and a rounded finish."
- Winestate Magazine, Aug 2019

TASTING NOTES

Aromas of apple and melon with stone fruit a little lime blossom. Soft and silken texture on the palate with apples again and a building peachy weight. A hint of nectarine/apricot lingers pleasingly. Fresh and well bodied.

Parcels of specially selected fruit from our Hawke’s Bay vineyards were pressed into stainless steel tanks and cool fermented. Several yeast strains were employed to express differing characters within the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

Our Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay is a versatile wine that will enhance a wide variety of dishes.

GOLD MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2019
SILVER MEDAL - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2018
SILVER MEDAL - Texsom International Wine Awards 2018
SILVER MEDAL - The Asian Chardonnay Masters 2018
SILVER MEDAL - New York Wine & Spirits Competition 2018

"The 2017 Chardonnay is a solid, entry-level wine, loaded up with melon and peach fruit and gussied up with hints of vanilla and dried spices. This medium-bodied, relatively pure expression of Hawke's Bay Chardonnay should drink well for a few years."
-Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, Feb 2018

"Bright straw-yellow colour with pale green-gold hues, lighter edged.  The nose is fresh and light with elegant aromas of bright white stone-fruits and citrus fruit, along with herbal elements.  This is refreshing, clear and focussed, quite pure and uncomplicated.  Dry to taste and light-medium bodied, the palate has fresh, clean and uncomplicated flavours of white stone-fruits and some citrus fruit notes.  The fruit is pure in expression with focus and an elegant core, and the wine is enlivened by fresh acidity.  The wine flows with some energy and tension to a light, dry finish.  This is a clean, pure, focussed but uncomplicated Chardonnay on a fresh palate."
-Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018

TASTING NOTES

This Chardonnay has finely focused aroma of citrus and peach. Biscuit notes. Soft fruited entry, nectarine and toffee flavours. Good length.

Parcels of specially selected fruit from our Hawke’s Bay vineyards were pressed into stainless steel tanks and cool fermented. Several yeast strains were employed to express differing characters within the wine. The separate parcels were combined and lightly fined prior to bottling.

Our Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay is a versatile wine that will enhance a wide variety of dishes.

"Bright, full, even straw-yellow colour with lemon-green hues, pale edged.  The nose is fresh and up-front with uncomplicated aromas of yellow stone-fruits and suggestions of nutty lees a mineral elements.  Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has bright and moderately rich flavours of yellow stone-fruits along with subtle nutty and mineral elements.  The wine has good body and presence with soft textures and light, refreshing acidity which carry the palate to a light, clean, dry finish.  This is a fresh, bright and up-front, uncomplicated, unwooded Chardonnay with flavours of yellow stone-fruits and a clean dry finish."
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, April 2017

"Strikes a balance between a toasty, cedary side and more subtle citrus flavours.  Light and juicy."
-Wine Spectator - www.winespectator.com 2017