World Wine 2002 Esk River Chardonnay

Hawke s Bay, New Zealand Esk River Chardonnay is an unbelievably good wine for anyone who enjoys a creamy Chardonnay with well integrated oak. The winery lies on alluvial soils in the heart of the Esk Valley, one of the original wine production areas of the HawkeÂ’s Bay. Esk River has selected fruit expressing classic Chardonnay flavors to produce this buttery rich style of wine. Our Consensus Panel gave this new discovery a rating of 90 points. Enjoy! Esk River Chardonnay is straw yellow in color with aromas of tropical fruits, pineapple, vanilla and subtle butterscotch. Full-bodied with light tannins and bright acidity, this wine offers flavors of apple, pineapple, mango, butterscotch and spice. A 30% portion of this wine went through malolactic fermentation. Oak barrel fermented for 9 months. This is an elegant wine with complexity, well balanced to enjoy now and over the next 4-5 years. It is rich and long on the finish. Enjoy Esk River Chardonnay with roasted salmon, grilled shrimp, chicken, grilled