SOUTH ISLAND (NELSON & CANTERBURY)

Note: in a bid to reduce confusion in international markets, wineries based at Waipara, in North Canterbury, are increasingly labelling their wines as of North Canterbury, rather than Waipara (easily confused with Wairarapa, in the lower North Island) origin.

Prices shown are approximate New Zealand retail. Wines available in export markets are shown as (A) Australia, (UK) and (US).

CHARDONNAY

5 TASTED

5 RECOMMENDED

A strong flight of classic, cool climate chardonnays, in which North Canterbury underlined its ability to produce powerful, complex, richly flavoured wines and also a crisper, more flinty, Chablis-like style.

Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2017 ★★★★★

This powerful, North Canterbury wine has a definite ‘wow’ factor. From ungrafted, 30-year-old vines, it was hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak puncheons (30% new). Full of personality, it has a highly fragrant, complex, slightly smoky bouquet, leading into a weighty but elegant palate, with grapefruit-like flavours, finely integrated oak, and lovely depth. $43 (A, UK)

Pyramid Valley Vineyards Field of Fire Canterbury Chardonnay 2016 ★★★★★

This compelling wine was estate-grown at Waikari, fermented and matured in clay amphorae and aged French oak casks,