Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Chardonnay 2020

Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Chardonnay 2020French oak Ripe stone fruit Roasted nuts Elegant & refined "An alluring bouquet of mineral and oyster shell, fresh ripe citrus and white peach. There's a layer of complexity from lees and use of fine wood with a mix of new and older barrel suggested. Flavours on the palate confirm the bouquet with a mix of peach and apple, citrus then nut and wood spices. Lees and acidity along with fine wood tannins deliver texture and length. A lovely example, ready

• French oak
• Ripe stone fruit
• Roasted nuts
• Elegant & refined

"An alluring bouquet of mineral and oyster shell, fresh ripe citrus and white peach. There's a layer of complexity from lees and use of fine wood with a mix of new and older barrel suggested. Flavours on the palate confirm the bouquet with a mix of peach and apple, citrus then nut and wood spices. Lees and acidity along with fine wood tannins deliver texture and length. A lovely example, ready for drinking from late 2022 through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Feb 2023

"Quite rich, intense and flavoursome wine with bright, peach, pineapple, rock melon, toasted nut and nutty oak flavours with a backbone of ripe acidity and gentle phenolics. Ripe, lush wine from an excellent vintage" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jan 2023

"Aromas of sliced pears, lemon rind and rosemary. Medium-bodied with juicy texture. Bright acidity with a green apple finish. Sustainable. Drink now" James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Refined and fragrant aromatics including roasted cashew, hazelnuts and ripe stone fruit with stony mineral characters lead to a deep, elegant palate. The fine palate flows into moorish layers of ripe stone fruits and savoury nuts with a deep, long finish.

A smaller, compact harvest with excellent quality. A wet spring allowed good vine growth and the warm, dry Martinborough summer arrived in January and carried through to late in the harvest. Harvest started early, with fine conditions throughout enabling us to finish picking by mid April.

Under the direction of Chief Winemaker, John Kavanagh, our winemaking philosophy places a premium on the character of each vineyard. Our John Martin Chardonnay is crafted from the best parcels from our Home Vineyard. It is hand-harvested, sorted in the winery, gently whole-bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast. It is aged for 12 months in French oak with regular lees stirring to enhance texture and flavour. Partial malolactic fermentation helps provide a subtle creaminess complexity. The wine is racked from barrel and blended very gently with minimal intervention through to bottling.

Established in 1984, Te Kairanga is an important part of the Martinborough wine story. Our vines are planted on land that was originally owned by the founding father of Martinborough, John Martin. While our land is steeped in history, our winemaking is very much focused on the future; “to fully realise the potential of this incredible piece of land,” according to our Chief Winemaker John Kavanagh. Pinot Noir is at the beating heart of Te Kairanga. Small parcels of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling showcase the abundance of our region.

Food Pairing: Best paired with smoked salmon or a caramelised onion tart.