This Chardonnay from Charles Wiffen is one of our most popular and has a very loyal and devoted fan base. From year to year it is stylistically consistent – rich and full with concentrated fruit, honeyed oak, a touch of nuttiness, and a long creamy finish. It just drinks so well.
The wine is made by James Rowan at the West Brook winery in Waimauku in West Auckland. In return, West Brook are able to access a supply of the top quality Wiffen fruit for their own label. It’s an arrangement that has served both parties extremely well for several years, as the Marlborough-fruited wines under both brands have been awarded many gold medals and trophies. James thinks it important that the Charles Wiffen wines express their Marlborough heritage and terroir so the fruit for the Wiffen bottlings is handled extra sensitively to ensure that provenance prevails over the winemakers’ hands.
Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"This wine has aromas of nectarine, fig, almond meal and hints of vanillin. Ten months in a mix of new and seasoned French Oak barriques gives a balanced and elegant palate with a soft and lingering, nutty and seductive finish."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
5 Stars & 18.5/20 (93) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, September 2020 (2018 Vintage)
"Bright, straw-yellow with some depth, faintly lighter on edge. This is elegantly presented, gently penetrating aromas of stonefruit, melded with almond, nougat and subtle vanillin. Medium-bodied, aromas of lemons, apricots have a good core, entwined with bitter almonds, cashews and a touch of vanilla cream. The wine flows smoothly and seamlessly with lacy, integrated acidity, carries interwoven nutty oak elements and toasty complexity, leading an elegant linear finish. Lightly creamy palate and a light phenolic fine texture have broadened the palate dimension, rounding to complete expression. This is a harmonious Chardonnay with flavours of stonefruit, vanilla, nutty, creamy details. Match with grilled game fish, salt-baked chicken over the next 3 years. 13% alc."