2024 Escarpment Chardonnay, Martinborough

Measured, flinty reduction with distinctly saline, modern accents over citrus leaf, green apple, wet stone and wood-smoke. Currently quite closed and reserved. The palate is light-weight but hidden under the shell of chalky phenolics and flint is a core of ripe apple, white peach, cashew and pink salt. The finish is taut, grainy and stony but long with a late hint of savoury mushroom and cream. Give this a year or two in bottle to relax and enjoy over the mid-term as it gains more nutty, savoury complexity 25 Sep 2025 Drink 2026–2033

92 points Stephen Wong MW therealreview.com

From the gravelly river terraces of Martinborough, this Chardonnay reflects Escarpment’s long pursuit of precision and vineyard expression. The estate sits on ancient alluvial soils laid down by the Huangarua River, where free draining gravels and a cool, windy climate create fruit with natural acidity and fine mineral tension. Escarpment has always favoured a Burgundian mindset, focusing on balance, texture and site clarity rather than overt richness, and this wine captures that philosophy in a poised, quietly powerful style.

Fruit is picked for freshness and structure, then handled with a light touch in the winery. Wild fermentation, careful lees work and restrained oak are used to build complexity without softening the wine’s edge. The result is a Chardonnay that feels architectural and coastal, shaped by line and energy more than weight.

In the glass it shows pale gold with green highlights. Aromas are layered and precise, opening with lemon zest, white peach and nectarine, followed by cashew, almond meal and a subtle flinty note. There is a faint saline lift that hints at the cool, windswept environment.

The palate is medium bodied and tightly focused, with citrus and stone fruit carried by a fine, chalky texture and bright acidity. Oak sits seamlessly in the background, adding savoury spice and frame rather than sweetness. The finish is long, mineral and mouthwatering, leaving impressions of citrus oil and crushed stone.

It shines with seafood, roast chicken, pork, creamy sauces and vegetable driven dishes. Drinking beautifully now with air, it will cellar comfortably for six to ten years, developing nutty, toasty complexity while retaining its mineral spine.

This is Martinborough Chardonnay at its most composed, cool climate precision wrapped in subtle texture and length.