2024 Ata Rangi Potiki Chardonnay, Martinborough

This single-vineyard chardonnay shows a trendy flinty character that gives it lots of mineral and crushed stone aromas. Medium-bodied with a linear and racy finish of sliced apples, pears and just a hint of wood. Fresh and lively. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

97 points James Suckling

There's some fresh fruitiness here, and yet the wine feels shaped with fine, chalky texture and a core of mineral-charged acidity. A sense of restraint and tension, the high refreshment factor also part and parcel. Nectarine, crunchy red apples, cashew, lemongrass and a pretty spice mix. A modern take on the variety, done with aplomb.

94 points Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion

A lively, youthful, bright chardonnay with crisp acidity highlighting defined floral and apple flavours. The elegant, racy palate is trimmed in oyster-shell and wet stone, subtle nutmeg spice and silky phenolics, adding to the sense of energy and flow. A hint of austerity on the finish strongly indicates that despite the balance being approachable already, this will gain more weight and nuttiness if cellared, adding dimension and depth to the otherwise crisp, light-weight delivery 

92 points Stephen Wong MW for The Real Review

Ata Rangi has been one of the standard bearers for Martinborough since Clive Paton founded the estate in 1980. Under the guidance of acclaimed winemaker Helen Masters, the winery continues to produce wines that reflect the region's distinctive character with purity, balance and precision. Potiki Chardonnay is named after the Māori word for "youngest child" and represents a vibrant, approachable expression of Ata Rangi's celebrated Chardonnay style.

Drawn from estate vineyards planted on Martinborough's ancient alluvial river terraces, the fruit benefits from free draining gravel soils and a cool maritime climate that preserves freshness and aromatic intensity. The outstanding 2024 growing season produced beautifully balanced fruit with excellent concentration and natural acidity. Wild fermentation, careful French oak maturation and extended lees ageing add texture and complexity while allowing the vineyard to remain the focus.

The colour is a brilliant pale straw with green gold highlights. Aromas of white peach, nectarine and preserved lemon are complemented by grapefruit zest, toasted hazelnut, oatmeal and subtle flinty notes. The palate is finely textured and beautifully poised, with ripe stone fruit, citrus and gentle oak carried by vibrant acidity and a chalky mineral line. The finish is long, elegant and wonderfully fresh, leaving lingering notes of lemon curd, roasted nuts and wet stone.

A superb match for grilled John Dory, roast free range chicken, seared scallops, asparagus with hollandaise, mushroom risotto or a mature Comté. Drinking beautifully from release, it has the balance and structure to develop gracefully over the next six to eight years.