The next step for Māori Point Chardonnay: In 2021, we harvested Chardonnay from the Te Kano Ridge Vineyard in Bendigo. These vines are quite young, but the growing season of 2021 was ideal for them, and the grapes were beautifully ripe and balanced. After pressing the juice from the grapes, and putting it in oak barrels, wild yeasts began to ferment the fresh Chardonnay juice. As we smelled and watched these fermentations, we were so impressed by the potential of the young wine that we decided to hold some some portion of it back as a "reserve" Chardonnay. The extra "reserve" time in barrel allows the wine to fully fill out and reach its potential; with the right wine, it can create hedonistic opulence that is nonetheless still in balance with the freshness and structure of the wine. 

Grapes were hand harvested on April 11 and whole-bunch pressed. The wine was fermented by wild yeasts in oak barrels at Māori Point, and allowed to mature on lees in barrels for 18 months. Flavours of golden delicious apples, crème brûlée, and wood spice transition to roasted nuts and buttery brioche, accentuated by supple mouthfeel and a long, long finish. In pursuit of making ever more natural wines, we bottled this Chardonnay unfiltered, so it will age well for 10 or more years, and may develop sediment over time.

Technical notes: 14% alcohol, pH 3.3. Vegan friendly, minimal sulfites.