2021 Bilancia Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay

Aromas of flint, ground ginger, grapefruit and pears. Medium-bodied with a tight structure and juicy finish. Fresh, with wet stone notes adding depth to the apple and pear fruit. Rosemary and thyme, too.

92 points jamessuckling.com

Light to medium-bodied wine with white peach, nectarine, subtle struck flint, and nutty yeast lees flavours. A high energy chardonnay with lively acidity and a hint of oyster shell/mineral character. 05 JAN 2023 Drink 2023–2028

91 points Bob Campbell MW therealreview.com

Sourced from two vineyards at Roys Hill, Hawke’s Bay; la collina and Trelinnoe. The Chardonnay was all hand picked, with each vineyard kept separate. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed and the juice run straight to barrels from the press, with no cold settling, for fermentation in new and older French oak. Indigenous yeast carried the fermentations to dryness. The wine spent 11 months in oak prior to bottling; there was no fining or cold stabilisation.

The Bilancia Chardonnay is approximately 40% from la collina and 60% from Trelinnoe vineyard.  The aim is to produce a wine that reflects the variety rather than the winemaking. It is a youthful, nicely wound wine with emphasis on a fresh, food friendly style and evenly balanced palate. Ripe stone fruit and citrus on the nose and palate with great texture and character and some minerality.