Elephant Hill Earth Chardonnay 2021

The Elephant Hill Earth Chardonnay 2021 is a powerful and refined wine from Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, showcasing the best of the region's terroir. Sourced predominantly from the Bridge Pa Triangle with a small percentage from Te Awanga, this Chardonnay is crafted with precision and aged in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new, for one year, followed by an additional five months on light lees. This process lends the wine a rich texture and complex flavours.

Nose: The wine opens with vibrant aromas of citrus, peach, and a hint of flint, layered with notes of buttered toast and subtle biscuity nuances, reflecting its oak maturation.

Palate: On the palate, it is tightly structured and weighty, offering flavours of mealy citrus, stone fruits, and a slight creamy texture from the lees ageing. The wine is well-balanced with fresh acidity that cuts through its rich profile, making it both powerful and elegant.

Finish: The finish is long and complex, with a lingering minerality and a touch of toasty oak. It’s still youthful and promises to develop beautifully over the next few years, making it an excellent candidate for cellaring until 2026 or beyond.

96 Bob Campbell MW
95 Cameron Douglas MS
96 Sam Kim
97 Candice Chow
18.5/20 Joelle Thompson