AC WINES RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2023

AC Wines is the personal project of renowned New Zealand winemaker Alwyn Corban and his son Abraham – a continuation of one of the country’s most historic winemaking legacies. With over a century of family heritage and a commitment to thoughtful, small-batch production, AC Wines represents the Corban family’s deep-rooted passion for craft, place, and purpose.

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The low-yielding vines were planted in 2004 on limestone, high on the western side of Te Mata, the iconic landmark of Hawke’s Bay. Handpicked, whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented. 50% natural ferment in new French oak barriques. 50% in older French oak. 100% malolactic fermentation.15 months lees maturation."

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2023 Vintage)
"Made by Alwyn Corban and his son, Abraham, this impressive wine was hand-picked from vines planted in 2004 “high on the western face of Te Mata Peak”, and fermented and matured for 15 months in French oak barriques (50% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is weighty and fleshy, vibrant and savoury, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours, mealy and toasty notes adding excellent complexity, and a very rich, harmonious finish. Already delicious, it’s ageworthy, too."

5 Stars & 95/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, November 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"It's immensely complex and inviting on the nose, showing golden peach, vanilla pod, roasted hazelnut, and almond meal characters. The concentrated palate delivers outstanding weight and depth, wonderfully enhanced by creamy texture and beautifully pitched acidity, leading to an impressively long, satisfying finish. At its best: now to 2031."

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, December 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"Complex and very attractive bouquet filled with scents of ripe stone fruits and barrel spices, wood smoke and youthful energy. Full-bodied on the palate with a raw energy and impact from oak and fruit flavours, tannins and phenolics from barrel and fruit skin contact. Acidity accentuates the vanilla and clove qualities form the wood as well as the youthful sensory impacts. A wine that is excellent now, yet will be even better once it settles into the rhythm of ageing and harmony, with this in mind the best drinking window should be 2026 through 2030+."

17/20 Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, August 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"Very direct, clean, emphatic citrus fruit on the nose. Mouth-filling fruit and very zesty with a note of kumquat. Satisfying."