World Wine 2004 Esk River Unoaked Chardonnay

New Zealand Esk River Unoaked Chardonnay is a great wine for the price. 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 unoaked style of wine. Our Consensus Panel gave this new discovery a rating of 89 points. Enjoy! Esk River Unoaked Chardonnay is straw yellow in color with aromas of tropical fruits, pineapple 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. 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 Unoaked Chardonnay with roasted salmon, grilled shrimp, chicken, grilled vegetables, and pasta.