Craggy Range 'Les Beaux Cailloux' Chardonnay 2024

The palate flows effortlessly, yet is underpinned by a striking salinity and chalkiness that bring freshness and definition. Savoury nuances intertwine seamlessly with citrus flavours, creating superb balance and length. A wine that speaks clearly of site and vintage, capturing the distinctive Gimblett Gravels terroir and our signature style.

"Granted there is a price dip discrepancy between top Chardonnays like this and Sauvignon Blanc, but it seems so harsh to think that whenever New Zealand wine is mentioned around the globe, first thoughts always turn to Sauvignon Blanc. And yet here we have an absolutely brilliant Chardonnay, and there are others, which should surely take centre stage. The lesson? Never neglect the great Chardonnays from New Zealand. For me, I can’t recall a better LBC than this one. I’m not sure why it needs a French name, but that apparently means ‘beautiful pebbles’. 2024 is simply a brilliant vintage. The best parcels in the vineyard were selected and whole bunch pressed to stainless steel before racking to French oak for fermentation with wild yeasts. Maturation was for eleven months in oak on full lees. The wine was then racked into stainless steel for a further four months. The Gimblett Gravels sub-region in Hawkes Bay may be seen as a special red district, but it can also produce some glorious Chardonnays, and this wine surely sits alongside the better Premier Cru Chardonnays from Burgundy, and a few Grand Cru as well. The big difference between those wines and this one is that they are normally two or three times, at least, more expensive. A shimmering pale lemon/gold, this is a Chardonnay of serious class. The nose reveals notes of lemon curd, citrus, a flick of grapefruit, jasmine, ginger, nectarines, peach pits and cashews. Exquisitely balanced, touches of gunflint and matchstick emerge with time in the glass. Put simply, as good an LBC as I can ever recall. Seamless in structure, with great length and a line of fine acidity, this will provide pleasure for the next ten to fifteen years. Love it." 96 Points - Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot