Te Mata
Elston Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay
Produced since 1984, Elston is an outstanding New Zealand chardonnay, grown at Te Mata’s estate vineyards in the Havelock Hills, Dartmoor Valley and Bridge Pa Triangle subregions of Hawke’s Bay. 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 from Te Mata Estate’s oldest vineyards in Havelock Hills. 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. Hand harvested fruit from Havelock Hills is blended with the best parcels of Chardonnay from Te Mata’s estate vineyards in the Dartmoor Valley and Bridge PA Triangle.
- Region
- Hawke's Bay
- Appellation
- Hawke's Bay
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 11 months in seasoned French oak barriques (33% new).
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
Pale white-gold in color, the 2024 Elston Chardonnay opens with layered aromas of crème brûlée, toasted sourdough, vanilla, grapefruit, and ripe yellow nectarine, accented by notes of oyster shell, hazelnut, and flint. The palate is rich and textured yet driven by electric acidity, delivering elegance, energy, and impressive length.
James Suckling
97 Points
2024
"Focused and textured, showing sliced apples and lemons with hints of dried pears and crushed stones on the nose. Full-bodied with chewy phenolics that add to the salty, subtle fruit. Limes at the end. Structured and impressive, this is a beautiful follow-up after the terrific 2023. A powerful and rather muscular chardonnay that highlights the quality of the fruit. 100% barrel-fermented and aged 11 months. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
— 2025
