A visit to the farmers’ market is a reminder of seasonality, as the empty spaces of late winter begin to be filled in by vendors bringing the first spring crops to market. Regular readers will know that I thrill at tasting and drinking across the gamut of wine styles/varieties, but even in wine I find myself increasingly following a sense of seasonality. The bolder reds of winter are making way for more and more white wines and I’m currently hankering for Chardonnay as it’s such a food-friendly variety yet oh so drinkable as I prepare dinner, while remaining keenly priced for its quality. A cracking lineup today that fulfil all those qualities. 2024 Main Divide by Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Chardonnay Price RRP $21.99 Rating Excellent Expressive nose, biscuity, nutty, ripe peach, oak spices, richness without being OTT, a little gunflint with air. Lovely fruit in the mouth, tropical elements like mango join peach, yet there’s a cooler greengage plum underlay. Great texture and integration offers rewarding drinking now, with bright acidity bringing refreshment to the close. Ticks all the boxes. www.maindivide.com 2024 McArthur Ridge Springvale Alexandra Chardonnay Price RRP $39.99 Rating Excellent Nutty aspects lead, brown butter/caramel influences, a green herb-like note adds freshness. The acidity more evident here (perhaps cooler climate?), the fruit more in the nectarine/just ripe apricot spectrum, on a nutty backdrop, cool and fresh. The crispness and juiciness to the fore now, really bringing refreshment to the table, or enjoy alfresco on a sunny day. www.mcarthurridge.nz 2024 Vavasour Awatere Valley Chardonnay Price RRP $29.99 Rating Excellent A creamy, clotted cream influence, the fruit dancing between stone and tropical fruits, a warm baguette nuance, later a fragrant blossom note. The palate is vivid and youthful, more stone fruited now, generosity allied with juicy freshness. Really appealing, bright, vibrant palate with a great, long finish. There’s a piquancy that has you licking your lips for more. www.vavasour.com 2023 Rabbit Ranch sur lie Central Otago Chardonnay Price RRP $24.50 Rating Very Good to Excellent Perfumed and fragrant, a honeysuckle-like note, stonefruits, a lightly savoury quality. Cooling freshness, quite fine and elegant rather than a buttery, oaky, fruit bomb. Nutty elements, a little chalky grip adding to the texture, with lovely tangy, zestiness on the close. Another wine that while drinking well off the bat, also promises to be a friend to food. www.rabbitranch.co.nz 2024 Grove Mill Marlborough Chardonnay Price RRP $19.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent The nose subtle, hints of anise and caramel, peach, light oak seasoning. The palate ramps it up a notch with clear richness here. Ripe peach, oak spices, savoury nuances, double cream, a touch of nuttiness. Quite generous, initially a little warm glow on the close that makes way for nutty characters as it takes on air. In the slot to bang open now. www.grovemill.co.nz 2024 Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Chardonnay Price RRP $32 Rating Very Good to Excellent Hints of melon, peach, dusty gravel, with air stonefruits. The palate tauter and more linear, top notes of cashew and almond, while there’s a deeper register to the fruit now. Nice balance and integration, this is not a wine of bombast, not a big fruit bomb but offering plentiful interest in its elegance. Drinking so well already. www.tkwine.co.nz
