Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Growing Region: Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Head Winemaker: Kate Radburnd

TASTING NOTE:
Today Pask Wines has planted some 90 hectares of vines across Hawke's Bay, and Kate Radburnd the head-winemaker earning an international reputation for producing consistent quality Chardonnay wines. Kate and the team have an insatiable enthusiasm for Chardonnay - and over the years numerous small batches of Chardonnay wines have been produced in the winery, trialing many different winemaking techniques.

This special 'Small Batch' Chardonnay was grown and selected from their Gimblett Road vineyards, and has been fermented and left 'sur lie' (in contact with spent yeast lees) to develop a more creamy, textured mouth-feel. Which combines the subtle characters of yeast maturation; with the vibrant ripe stone-fruit characters that Chardonnay is renowned. The small batches were fermented and matured in seasoned French oak barrels.

In the glass you have a light golden colour, with a straw edge. On the nose ripe peach and rock-melon with sweet lemon curd notes. These aromatics carry through onto the palate, along with nectarine and other tropical fruits giving further layers and weight to the wine. All held together by a good firm structure, developed from its time in oak. The palate is medium bodied with a smooth and creamy mouth-feel, perfectly balanced by the wines natural fruit acidity and the integrated seams of toasty oak - which creates a short-bread note to the persistent finish. Chill and serve at 8-10C.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this summer season; and will age well for another 3-4 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine pairing with roasted white meats, homemade stuffed ravioli and an aged, creamy cheese, enjoy.

A dynamic expression of Chardonnay.