Te Pā, Auntsfield 2022

te Pā is a Māori family estate rooted in Marlborough’s Wairau Bar, one of New Zealand’s oldest coastal settlements. The family farms sustainably, drawing on generations of guardianship of land and sea. Their vineyards lie on alluvial soils close to the coast, yielding wines of clarity and poise. The 2022 Chardonnay opens with aromas of white peach, lemon curd, and hazelnut, underpinned by subtle flint and spice. The palate is creamy yet vibrant, blending citrus, stone fruit, and delicate oak in perfect balance. Lees texture brings roundness, while taut acidity and oyster-shell minerality add drive. Long, poised, and sophisticated, it shows both the ripeness and restraint that define Marlborough’s new generation of world-class Chardonnay.