Elephant Hill 'Sea' Chardonnay 2020 750ml

Product Info

91pts Vinous Media
The 2020 Chardonnay Sea is a salty, nutty, pure wine that's refined and focused. Some flesh on the palate adds roundness to its linear, finessed and briny character. Drinking Window 2023 - 2029. - By Rebecca Gibb MW on January 2023

Terroir
Elephant Hill’s “Sea” Chardonnay comes from the coastal Te Awanga subregion of Hawke’s Bay, one of New Zealand’s most distinctive Chardonnay-growing areas. The vineyards lie just inland from the Pacific Ocean, where constant maritime influence defines the wine’s character. Cooling sea breezes temper daytime warmth, extending the growing season and preserving acidity while allowing fruit to achieve full physiological ripeness.

The soils are predominantly free-draining alluvial gravels layered with sandy loam, remnants of ancient riverbeds. These soils naturally limit vine vigor, concentrating flavor while encouraging deep root systems that translate into mineral precision and structural tension in the finished wine. The proximity to the ocean imparts a subtle saline edge that distinguishes Te Awanga Chardonnay from more inland expressions, lending freshness and clarity even in warmer vintages.

The 2020 vintage was notably warm and settled, producing ripe fruit with generous concentration. Crucially, the maritime influence of the Sea vineyard moderated potential excess, resulting in a Chardonnay that balances ripeness with restraint—rich but not heavy, expressive yet composed.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
The winemaking philosophy behind “Sea” Chardonnay is centered on texture, balance, and site transparency. Grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness to preserve natural acidity while capturing depth of flavor. Fermentation takes place primarily in French oak barrels, a portion of which are new, using indigenous yeasts to build complexity and nuance. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation, softening acidity and contributing a creamy mid-palate texture. Extended time on the lees adds breadth and mouthfeel, while careful oak integration provides subtle framing rather than overt dominance. Throughout élevage, intervention is restrained, allowing the vineyard’s maritime character to remain the focal point.

The result is a Chardonnay that bridges modern precision and classical structure—layered, textural, and unmistakably shaped by its coastal origin.

Tasting Notes
The 2020 “Sea” Chardonnay opens with a refined yet generous aromatic profile. Ripe stone fruit—white peach, nectarine, and yellow plum— leads the nose, supported by notes of lemon curd, citrus blossom, and ripe pear. Subtle layers of toasted hazelnut, almond meal, and gentle vanilla emerge with air, interwoven with a faint saline note that hints at the vineyard’s proximity to the sea.

On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a beautifully balanced structure. The entry is smooth and expansive, showing flavors of peach, baked apple, and Meyer lemon, followed by a creamy, lees-driven mid-palate. Despite its richness, the wine maintains excellent definition, carried by a core of bright acidity that keeps the profile lifted and precise.

Mineral notes—suggestive of wet stone and sea spray—add depth and tension, preventing the wine from drifting into opulence. Oak is seamlessly integrated, contributing texture and subtle spice without overshadowing the fruit. The finish is long, polished, and quietly persistent, lingering with citrus oil, almond skin, and a saline echo.

Food Pairing & Service
Elephant Hill “Sea” Chardonnay 2020 is a versatile and food-friendly wine, particularly well suited to dishes that balance richness with freshness. It pairs beautifully with butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, or grilled kingfish, where its acidity and mineral edge cut through natural sweetness and fat. Roast chicken with lemon and herbs, creamy poultry dishes, or pasta with mushroom or shellfish-based sauces are equally compelling matches.

Vegetable-driven dishes such as roasted squash, fennel gratin, or cauliflower with browned butter highlight the wine’s textural depth, while aged cheeses—Comté, Gruyère, or aged Gouda—draw out its nutty complexity.

Serve at 50–54°F (10–12°C) in a Burgundy-style white wine glass to emphasize aromatic nuance and texture. While approachable upon opening, the wine benefits from a short period in the glass and will continue to evolve gracefully over the next 5–8 years, developing additional savory and nutty complexity with time.