GROVE MILL CHARDONNAY 2025

Gold Medal – The National Wine Awards Aotearoa New Zealand 2026
Gold Medal – Marlborough Wine Show 2026

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"Ripe stone fruit and lemon curd lead the nose, layered with notes of toasted brioche, cashew, and subtle French oak. The palate is rich and savoury, balancing citrus and white stone fruit with fine texture, vibrant acidity, and a refined mineral edge that carries through to a long, elegant finish.

Fruit was selectively harvested and gently pressed directly to tank. After a short settling period of 6–12 hours, the clarified juice was transferred to 100% French oak barrels for fermentation. To enhance aromatic complexity, 70% of the barrels were inoculated with selected commercial yeast, while the remaining 30% were allowed to undergo wild fermentation. Following primary fermentation, the bar rels were stirred regularly (batonnage) to support malolactic conversion and build texture and structure. The wine remained in barrel for 11 months of maturation before blending and preparation for bottling."

5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, April 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"Beautifully fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows apricot, mango, lemon peel, and roasted nut aromas. It's delightfully weighted and finely flowing in the mouth, delivering juicy fruit intensity, fleshy texture, and fine acidity, making it well-balanced and lingering with tasty flavours. At its best: now to 2029."

4 Stars & Best Buy, Cuisine Chardonnay Tasting, August 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"Bright and toasty on the nose with tropical fruits, light phenolics, aniseed and hints of greens which are initially perplexing but come together on the palate. Well balanced, full of flavour and persistent. Hard to pass for value for money."