Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawkes Bay 2014 – $

Ever since R brought us over a bottle of this producer’s Chardonnay last year I have seen it as a good low-cost and dependable Queen of Wine for everyday drinking.

From the latest vintage: yellow straw, 13.5% alc, lightly fragrant with notes of pears lemons and apricots.

The wine is leaner than the 2014 Church Road. Flavours of citrus, Golden Delicious apples. Very moreish, again.

BTG 3+

Esk Valley Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Hawkes Bay 2013 – $$

Lovely inky colour. Rich and mouthcoating. Tannic, drying from the Malbec component in the blend, and showing deep black stonefruit. Great structure, and showed really well on the second night. Very flavoursome. A good cellar wine.

VG 4