2020 Giesen Small Batch Chardonnay, Hawkes Bay

It's splendidly fruited and enticing on the nose showing apricot, citrus peel, vanilla and roasted cashew characters, followed by a beautifully supple palate that's ripe and silky. Flavoursome and lingering with textural mouthfeel and juicy acidity. At its best: now to 2026.

94 points Sam Kim wineorbit.co.nz

The Giesen brothers have always aspired to create great wines that people around the world love. Whatever the occasion, there's a Giesen wine to match.

Each parcel is individually managed during winemaking to retain vineyard character. This Small Batch wine is classic cool-climate Marlborough Chardonnay.

Look for notes of white peach, lemon, toasted hazelnut, and flint on the nose. Enjoy the rich, concentrated palate, with bright zest balancing the fruit sweetness. Ripe lemon and peach flavours, with grapefruit on the finish.

Giesen Small Batch Chardonnay from Hawkes Bay is a wine that proves great things come in small batches—and not just in your grandma’s secret cookie recipe. Giesen, well-known for their consistent quality, decided to put their Chardonnay hat on and craft something special from New Zealand’s sun-kissed Hawkes Bay region. Known more for their Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Giesen went rogue with this one, showing off their versatility with a Chardonnay that’s as charming as it is delicious.

Hawkes Bay, with its warm climate and varied soils, is a Chardonnay paradise. The region’s combination of sunshine and cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean makes it the perfect place to grow grapes that develop both ripeness and freshness. And since Giesen loves a challenge, they’ve captured that balance beautifully in this small batch.

This Chardonnay has all the goodies you’d expect: on the nose, there’s bright citrus, stone fruits like peach and nectarine, and a subtle hint of flint. But the fun doesn’t stop there—creamy, toasty notes sneak in thanks to some gentle oak treatment (because every Chardonnay loves a little oak love). On the palate, it’s smooth and well-rounded with flavors of ripe apple, lemon curd, and a buttery texture that makes you want to slow down and savor each sip. The acidity keeps it fresh, with a long, mineral-driven finish that whispers, “I’m classy, but also a little fun.”

Giesen’s Small Batch Chardonnay has been well-received, with wine lovers praising its balance of fruit and oak, calling it a "polished" and "versatile" white that can pair as easily with roasted chicken as it can with a lazy afternoon on the porch.