From $39.95
This distinguished Chardonnay exudes presence and finesse. The palate is wonderfully mouth-filling with intense aromas of orange blossom tropical fruits and butterscotch notes, all intertwined with peach and pomelo flavours in harmony with fine French oak seasoning, leading to a subtle butterscotch, apricot and cashew finish.
Elspeth represents our top tier of wines produced from exceptional Hawkes Bay sites, focused on the Gimblett Gravels District for red wines and the Riverview District for Chardonnay. The fruit is hand-picked and only under the Elspeth label when of exceptional quality. Our winemaking team share the philosophy of a hands-on, no expense spared approach to produce these fine award winning wines. The range is limited to Chardonnay, Syrah and Bordeaux style reds.
| Amount | Single Bottle, Case (6 Bottles) |
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Bold, rich bouquet with lots of expression of fruit then winemaking. Aromas of sweet ripe peach and red apple, there’s a grapefruit suggestion the wood through aromas of sweetness and spice, smoke and stone. Equally bold and rich in character on the palate, full-bodied with a baked peach and apple custard idea, some toasty butterscotch flavour then citrus peel and vanilla. Warm and generous with warming alcohol and youthful smooth and tense texture. Well made with plenty of length and style. Best drinking from 2026 through 2033.
Cameron Douglas, MS
The flagship chardonnay for Mills Reef is tightly coiled and ready to unleash its talents over the next ten years I feel. From a cooler vintage, Paul Dawick and his winemaking team have sourced some spectacular fruit to craft a chardonnay scented with grilled grapefruit, lemon pith, a prickle of pineapple and a seam of creamy mango winding itself around a citrus-centric spine. Almond and cinnamon toast characters wash across the palate alongside Brazil nut notes and contribute to a long, clean finish. Still just a puppy, this chardonnay has enormous potential and I’d love to taste it even in just 12 months
Yvonne Lorkin
Instantly appealing, enjoy now or with slow cooked pulled pork and sweet potatoes. Or let age with careful cellaring.
The grapes for this classical variety were sourced from our acclaimed single vineyard, Riverview, in the Maraekakaho district. The 2023/24 growing season in Hawkes Bay enjoyed a climate of consistently warm, clear, sunny days and uniform temperatures. This weather pattern allowed the grapes to develop perfectly and be harvested over 9 days, at optimal ripeness, from the 9th to 18th March.
The slightly elevated north facing vineyard sits in free draining, silty loam with underlying gravel which is ideally suited for this noble variety.
The juice was barrel fermented, in 100% French oak hogsheads (300lt) with chardonnay specific yeasts, suited to promote the natural variety characteristics and terroir. Then, the wine underwent 35% malolactic fermentation to achieve an integrated buttery texture. Thereafter, the wine spent ten months in oak (35% new French) with frequent lees stirring for enhanced complexity. The final wine was composed from selected barrels and batches to achieve the desired wine style, before bottling under screwcap on the 21st of April 2025.
This distinguished Chardonnay exudes presence and finesse. The palate is wonderfully mouth-filling with intense aromas of orange blossom, roasted nuts and butterscotch notes, all intertwined with vanilla and stone fruit flavours in harmony with fine French oak seasoning, leading to a subtle butterscotch, baked peach and cashew finish. Instantly appealing, enjoy now or with slow cooked pulled pork and sweet potatoes. Or let age with careful cellaring 5-7 years
