2024 Clos Ostler Chardonnay, Waitaki Valley

Exquisite and poised, the wine shows white-fleshed nectarine, lemon pith, wet limestone, nougat, and biscotti nuances. It's concentrated and wonderfully weighted, delivering a creamy mouthfeel and beautifully pitched acidity, making it superbly structured and harmonious with an impressively long, textured finish. At its best: 2027 to 2034.

96 points Sam Kim for Wine Orbit, May 2026

Bright gold. This is a lush and creamy-oaked chardonnay with guilty aromas of lemon curd and vanilla ice cream which eventually give way to roasted cashew and hazelnut. The palate has a tight, saline acidity which offsets the more developed, deliberately oxidative complexity woven throughout the creamy honeydew melon flavours. Teetering on the edge of voluptuous but with enough acid tension to bring everything into focus, this walks a fine line on balance which gives it intrigue and interest. Approachable now but with the structure and concentration to reward mid-term cellaring. Drink to 2035.

95 points Stephen Wong for The Real Review, July 2026

Bright, even, pale yellow. The nose is welcoming, with aromas of flint, stonefruit, citrus, wildflowers and delicate spice. Medium-bodied, aromas of nectarine, lemon sherbet, grapefruit and its zest, intertwined with stony minerals, flint, fine spice and wildflower. The fruit is bright and lifted, flowing effortlessly alongside fresh acidity and chalky mineral on a creamy mouthfeel. This Chardonnay has a harmonious flow, unveiling chalky minerals and an enticing finish. Match with snapper and scampi over the next 5-7 years. Clone 95, handpicked and whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented with wild yeast and aged in French oak for 11 months.

95 points Candice Chow for Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, May 2026

Great colour and bouquet with yellow gold hues then aromas of nut and baked stone fruits, vanilla and whipped cream, nectarine and even a touch of banana. Complex too with a distinctive voice of site with a limestone soil voice. On the palate a full-bodied dry wine with a core of green melon and stone fruit flavours, vanilla and baked nut complexities. Medium+ acid line, a silky-cream texture and fine tannins from oak and fruit leading to a lengthy finish. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2031+.

94 points Cameron Douglas, April 2026

Voluminous and rich, with aromas of ripe peaches, pineapple, mangoes and a touch of citrus. The palate is ample, with texture, richness, freshness and a pleasant bitter note in the flavorful finish. Drink now.

91 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling, March 2026

Clos Ostler is a family-owned estate in Waitaki Valley on New Zealand’s South Island. The 2002 established site sits on a north-facing limestone escarpment and is planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.