2018 Elephant Hill Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay

"A beautifully presented wine with a bouquet of satin smooth peach and ripe grapefruit, aromas of stone and wet rocks, a saline quality fresh cashew nut oak scents with a light white smoke complexity. Textures of satin cream and ripe fruit are bound with warming alcohol all touching the palate simultaneously, flavours of yellow stone fruits and ripe citrus, vanilla and cashew nut cream. Tannins are fine adding mouthfeel, acidity for contrast and bite all leading to a plush, complex and lengthy finish. A youthful wine still with best drinking from 2023 through 2027."

"This is wonderfully complex and immensely appealing with golden peach, rockmelon, brioche, hazelnut and lemon peel aromas on the nose, leading to a concentrated palate that's succulent and plush. Beautifully layered with delectable flavours and rich texture, finishing superbly long and satisfying. At its best: now to 2028."

"Maturing gracefully, the 2018 vintage was estate-grown at Te Awanga, and fermented and lees-aged for 15 months in French oak barrels (26 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with generous, ripe stonefruit flavours, finely integrated oak, fresh acidity and a savoury, lingering finish. A vigorous, complex wine, likely to be long-lived, it should be at its best 2025+."