Full screwcapped bottle 1,318 g. Sourced from 14 ha of hand-harvested vines in both Kumeu (42%) and Hawke's Bay (58%) planted between 1989 and 2016. Spontaneous fermentation and 100% malo. 38% barrel fermentation in their old French oak barriques (at least five years old) and 62% fermented in tank. 32% bough-in grapes from Bridge Pa. Roughly 12,000 cases produced, about average (cf the small 2024 crop). Quite a portion from Hawke's Bay limestone. Transport in half-ton bins in their hired trucks. No refrigeration needed even over the seven-hour drive – so far. Today they have 30 ha of Kumeu Chardonnay, 6 ha of Kumeu Pinot Gris, 2 ha of Kumeu Pinot Noir (devoted to their Crémant), 11 ha of Hawke's Bay Chardonnay, 4 ha of Rays Road Pinot Noir and they buy in fruit from 4 ha of Hawke's Bay Chardonnay. The Rays Road vineyard in Hawke's Bay has a total plantable area of about 25 ha. They are currently redeveloping about 10 ha that was previously planted to Sauvignon Blanc and sold as grapes. Nearly all of it will be Chardonnay. In 2025 they filled a total of nearly 900 barrels for all their various Chardonnays. Pale greenish straw. Real grip and zest and very much house style. Zesty citrus and mouth-filling even if not complex. Bone-dry finish. Slight veginess on the end. (JR)