Auntsfield Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Reviews

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit: 94/100.  It's elegant and inviting on the nose with aromas of ripe peach, rockmelon, lemon peel, subtle vanilla, and toasted almond. The palate delivers excellent weight and silky flow, beautifully complemented by creamy texture and finely pitched acidity, finishing persistent and stylish. At its best: now to 2033.

Decanter: 93/100. Tasted by: Julie Sheppard (at Australia & New Zealand Trade Tasting 2026, 27 Jan 2026). Auntsfield Estate was the first winery in Marlborough, established way back in 1892. From a single vineyard planted on loess and greywacke soils, this Chardonnay shows a distinctive sense of place, with a mineral structure and beautifully textured palate, layered with vibrant citrus, ripe stone fruit and savoury nuttiness from well-judged French oak, all driven by a perfectly poised acid line.

James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com): 92/100. Fresh and fragrant, with aromas of orchard fruit, lemon peel, honeysuckle, crushed stones and a touch of flint. Clean and juicy on the palate, with a medium body and a lively flow. Very attractive and open. Sustainable. Drink now.

Marlborough Wine Show 2025: Silver.

Tasting Note

This wine presents itself in a rich straw gold. The nose is intense and complex, dominated by aromas of peach skin, mandarin, and a delicate lemon tart. The maturation in French oak barrels introduces elegant notes of brioche and apricot nougat. On the palate, a ripe richness of stone fruit like peach and dried apricot unfolds, complemented by subtle hints of roasted hazelnut and fig. Its impressive length and the subtle, supporting minerality make this wine an unforgettable experience.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Wine type: White wine from New Zealand

Grape varial: Chardonnay

Food match: Chicken, pork, creamy dishes, crayfish

Vineyard: Auntsfield Estate, Southern Valleys, Marlborough. Naturally low-cropping mature vine Clone 15 is planted in the ancient Greywacke rock and Loess clay soils of this excellent chardonnay vineyard. The naturally cooler climate in the Southern Valleys intensifies flavours and aromas, whilst keeping bright acidity.

Growing Season: The 2023 season was excellent. Regular winter rainfall and a cool spring encouraged canopy growth but kept cropping levels at a balanced level. Summer had regular rainfall but stayed relatively cool resulting in healthy vines with no disease or water stress. There was a slow progression into autumn with a long drawn-out ripening period where the fruit reached optimum ripeness in perfect harvest conditions.

Winemaking: The fruit for this wine was hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels with indigenous (from Auntsfield vineyard) yeast. Maturation on yeast lees allowed the oak flavours to subtly integrate with the fruit to develop depth and complexity in the wine.

Alcohol: 14% vol

Gesamtsäure: 6.6 g/l

Residual sugar: 2.1 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulphites

Cellaring potential: until 2030+

Closure: Screwcap

Produced and bottled by: Auntsfield Estate, 270 Paynters Road, RD2, Blenheim, New Zealand