The best winter white wine is chardonnay because of its flavour, weight, texture and subtlety. It's great with white meats, pasta and a natural with chicken, especially when roasted. Look at these fine examples.
Spade Oak Voysey Series Chardonnay - 2013
Montana's former head winemaker in Gisborne, Steve Voysey, isnow doing his own thing at Spade Oak. Chardonnay put Gisborne on the New Zealand wine map and this wine is a reminder why. It delivers at a most reasonable price, with plenty of classic chardonnay character, layered citrus flavours with savoury hints and nutty oak characters with a seamless long finish. This is a biggish wine but not overburdened with alcohol.
Another Gisborne producer specialising in boutique single vineyard wines. Elegant, concentrated and a fine drop from winemaker Rebecca Salmond, this chardonnay has wonderful balance, huge intensity and loads of up-front flavour. Cellared correctly, it will age gracefully for years to come. Flavours of white peach, fig and melon.
$37
Black Estate Chardonnay - 2012
From Waipara, this is a lavish, lush and a wonderfully constructed wine. Gently hand-harvested, there is equal care taken in the winery as there is in the vineyard. This wine has superb weight with a mineral texture and refreshing white peach, hazelnut and citrus flavours.
$42
Available at heraldwine.co.nz for a limited time, courtesy of Glengarry and GrabOne Bottle.
