Elephant Hill Chardonnay Hawkes Bay 2013 – $$$

A single vineyard wine from the Awanga Vineyard in the Hawkes Bay. Hand-everything-ed. I loved loved this producer’s Syrah.

Pale gold and leggy. 13.5%.

Fragrant nose of vanilla and golden summer stonefruit.

A strong citrusy style of Chardonnay. Fresh, almost ripping acidity. Flavours of early apricots. Mealy, but dominant impression is lean on the mid-palate. Good complexity at the finish and very long.

Quite delicious. VG 4