Te Mata Estate Elston Chardonnay 2014

Ideally drink now through to 2020. Serve well chilled.

Pale yellow in colour, this Chardonnay is a superb example of this very versatile grape. The nose explodes with ripe peach, apricot and citrus notes mixed with honey and vanilla. On the palate, the fruit comes through together with smooth lemon, vanilla and custard. The wine is concentrated and complex with a great balance and acidity. The finish is long and lingering with honey and vanilla to end.

A great wine to drink on its own or match with creamy chicken dishes, pasta, salad, vegetables and cheese.

Te Mata prides itself on producing some of the best wines in the Hawke’s Bay area. By using winemaking techniques that encourage minimal intervention, the characteristics of this Chardonnay are retained. The different parcels of grapes are gently pressed and fermented in oak barrels. The resulting wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, unusual for white wines, and stays on the lees during this process. The wine is then matured in oak for 11 months prior to bottling.

The Te Mata Estate has been around since 1896 and benefits from the very special place that Hawke’s Bay is. It has the perfect combination of terroir, sunshine, low humidity and a range of different elevations. Combine this with some of the best winemakers in the world and it’s no wonder the wines from Te Mata are so desirable.