Te Mata
Elston Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay
Produced since 1984, Elston Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from Te Mata Estate’s oldest vineyards on the hillsides above the winery. Elston is named for Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire, the ancestral home of Charles Darwin’s family. The wyvern symbol of Elston Hall appears on the label.
Vintage Factsheets
Elston Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from Te Mata Estate’s oldest vineyards in Havelock Hills, on the hillsides above the winery. First planted in 1892, the Havelock Hills are the heart of Te Mata Estate’s wine production. Te Mata Estate has five sites on these free draining, north-facing slopes, including the 1892 vineyard – one of New Zealand’s oldest vineyards, originally called the Hill Block. Soils to the east of the property are predominantly sandy loam over a sandstone base. Towards the west are sandy loam over clay and silica. The distinctive terrain lies at the intersections of two tectonic plates, which has paved the landscape of steep and gentle sloping terraces, ideal for grape-growing.
The Havelock Hills Vineyards are renowned for producing wines with great balance, power and elegance. In 1996 the Havelock Hills area was recognized for the significance of its natural and viticultural heritage when it was designated the Te Mata Special Character Zone. This legally protected the hills from development and created the first wine appellation in New Zealand.
- Region
- Hawke's Bay
- Appellation
- Hawke's Bay
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- Each parcel was gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled and racked to new and seasoned French oak barrels for fermentation. The resulting wines remained in contact with their yeast lees, with a number going through malolactic fermentation. The finest lots were selected for further maturation, spending a total of 11 months in barrel. Aged in 33% new French oak.
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
Brilliant white gold in the glass, Elston Chardonnay has wonderfully intense aromas of golden peach, apricot, and lemon zest. Focused but flowing – this is a wine of precision, power, and poise. On the mouth-watering palate there’s oodles of ripe, white-fleshed fruit, nougat and nutmeg, integrated fine oak tannin, and just a flick of salinity. A long line of sweet citrus acidity and ripe Hawke’s Bay chardonnay fruit run through here.
James Suckling
95 Points
2022
"This is really energetic with an excellent fruit and acid balance that gives the wine a tangy finish that lasts for minutes. Medium to full body. Lovely depth with sliced ripe green apple flavors and hints of hot stone. Hints of bread dough and steel gives this complexity. Flavorful finish."
— James Suckling, 2024
