Imagine the lovechild of a Grand Cru white Burgundy with a true coastal Sonoma Chardonnay. You’re looking at one! While New Zealand has risen to fame with its Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs, this Chardonnay too is up there with some of the best deals we have ever seen for OUTSTANDING examples of the Queen of Whites. It is no surprise that the roots to help explain why this wine is SO good date back 125 years, a LONG time for a relatively young, young New World wine country. Even if you just look at the numbers, 25 bucks, 44% off, 93 points, all caught in the crosshairs, target locked. Spies say fire! Pull the trigger before this sells out!

Brilliant pale gold, with bright straw highlights illuminated glimmeringly in the glass. A toasty beauty, overflowing with grilled peaches, preserved lemons, and pineapple on the exotic nose. Fleshy and opulent on the palate, this is a terrific example of unabashedly rich yet fresh Chardonnay. Attractive hints of sweet corn and cashews linger long on the broad finish in this mouthwatering white. A grilled thick halibut steak basted with lime juice and garlic, over coconut fried rice would be the ideal plate to accompany this beauty.

The oldest winery in New Zealand, Te Mata is named after the region this Estate was founded in 1895 and means “The Face” in ancient Polynesian. Described as a “National Treasure” by Jancis Robinson recently, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate lists Te Mata Estate as one of the 5 icon wineries of New Zealand, awarding it the classification of “Outstanding Producer”. Te Mata was also profiled as a “Wine Legend” by Decanter in 2017, the only New Zealand wine to have ever done so. New Zealand’s Cuisine Wine Magazine wrote of Te Mata Estate: “If there were a Kiwi wine aristocracy, Te Mata would be part of it, they make some of the best wines in the country.” Indeed, Te Mata Estate wines have been presented at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, as a gift to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and served at a Presidential White House dinner in 2018. What are you waiting for to join the royalty?

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “One of New Zealand’s top wineries, Te Mata, under the leadership of chief executive Nick Buck and veteran winemaker Phil Brodie, continues to set the pace in Hawke’s Bay. Mainly Mendoza but with some Clone 95 and Clone 548 now appearing in the blend, the 2017 Elston Chardonnay is one of the highlights of this vintage, according to winemaker Phil Brodie. Subtle toast notes frame pineapple and melon notes in this entirely barrel-fermented wine that saw 35% new French oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, plump and custardy on the mid-palate but clean and crisp on the long, citrus-and-peach finish. Drink 2019-2024.”