VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION HAWKES BAY CHARDONNAY 2021

Produced by New Zealand’s Champion producer of Chardonnays. This recently released 2021 vintage is an excellent follow up to the award winning previous vintages. It offers incredible amounts of Chardonnay satisfaction for very few dollars. Every year the Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Chardonnay comes through with the goodies.

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
“Classically Hawkes Bay in style this Chardonnay reveals a fragrant nose of grilled peach and nectarine stone fruit, with complexing cashew characters from subtle French oak. A silken textured mouthfeel unfolds with layers of fruit, delicate oak spice and subtle mealy flavours topped with wonderful acidity.”

5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Febraury 2022 (2021 Vintage)
“Gorgeously fruited and immediately appealing with golden peach, fig, vanillin oak and brioche characters, it’s succulent and supple in the mouth displaying excellent weight and persistency. Beautifully rounded and creamy with a lengthy flavoursome finish. At its best: now to 2025.”​​​​​​​

92/100 Cameron Douglas MS, February 2022 (2021 Vintage)
“Vibrant and varietal, toasty and fruity, authentic and real – a bouquet of toasted peaches and fresh grapefruit, brazil nut and butter, apple and pear. On the palate – dry, satin textured, nutty, fruity and ready. Flavours mirror the bouquet with a medium+ weighted mouthfeel, balanced, plenty of texture and freshness, a Chardonnay for sipping while you prepare dinner and a long weekend ahead. Best drinking from mid 2022 through 2026.”

Reviews for the 2020 vintage below…

4 Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
“Typically a great buy. The attractive 2020 vintage was fermented and matured in French oak casks (17 per cent new). Light lemon/green, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with ripe stonefruit flavours, finely integrated oak, a hint of butterscotch, fresh acidity, and excellent balance and depth. Already drinking well, it should break into full stride mid-2022+.”