Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 balances creamy texture and flinty freshness, layered with stone fruit and subtle oak. Produced by a sustainability leader in New Zealand from a distinctive seabed vineyard, it comes highly rated by critics and wine enthusiasts, standing as a benchmark for Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay.
Taste
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 displays a creamy, layered palate brimming with flavours of white peach, grapefruit, Brazil nut and lemon, underpinned by flinty, saline minerality. Notes of vanilla, panna cotta and a trace of toasted oak create complexity, while lively acidity brings freshness and balance. The finish is long, textured, and elegant - perfectly expressing its unique Hawke’s Bay seabed terroir.
Producer
Esk Valley is a boutique winery rooted in Hawke’s Bay and renowned for traditional, hands-off winemaking and a strong focus on sustainability. Led for decades by Gordon Russell and now by Richard Painter (NZ Winemaker of the Year 2018), the estate champions low-intervention methods, hand-harvesting, and meticulous small-batch craftsmanship. The Seabed vineyard, planted with Burgundy clone 95 in 2001 on former estuary soils uplifted by the 1931 Napier earthquake, yields Chardonnays of exceptional purity. Esk Valley is also known for major strides in sustainable wine-growing, including a 35% reduction in carbon emissions per bottle.
Awards & Critic Scores
The 2021 Seabed Chardonnay is widely acclaimed: ranked in the top echelon of Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays, it receives consistent critic scores above 91/100, with a top 94/100 from Wine Anorak. On Vivino, it enjoys a rating of 4.0, confirming its appeal among wine lovers and critics alike.
What makes Hawke's Bay special?
Hawke’s Bay is special because it is New Zealand’s oldest wine region and was recently recognised as one of the world’s prestigious Great Wine Capitals, alongside Bordeaux and Napa Valley. The region enjoys abundant sunshine, a range of diverse soils, and a long growing season - ideal for producing red blends (especially Merlot/Cabernet), Syrah, and rich, complex Chardonnay. Hawke’s Bay is also celebrated for its innovative winemaking culture and leading sustainable practices, all set amid stunning landscapes and a thriving food and wine tourism scene.
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 balances creamy texture and flinty freshness, layered with stone fruit and subtle oak. Produced by a sustainability leader in New Zealand from a distinctive seabed vineyard, it comes highly rated by critics and wine enthusiasts, standing as a benchmark for Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay.
Taste
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 displays a creamy, layered palate brimming with flavours of white peach, grapefruit, Brazil nut and lemon, underpinned by flinty, saline minerality. Notes of vanilla, panna cotta and a trace of toasted oak create complexity, while lively acidity brings freshness and balance. The finish is long, textured, and elegant - perfectly expressing its unique Hawke’s Bay seabed terroir.
Producer
Esk Valley is a boutique winery rooted in Hawke’s Bay and renowned for traditional, hands-off winemaking and a strong focus on sustainability. Led for decades by Gordon Russell and now by Richard Painter (NZ Winemaker of the Year 2018), the estate champions low-intervention methods, hand-harvesting, and meticulous small-batch craftsmanship. The Seabed vineyard, planted with Burgundy clone 95 in 2001 on former estuary soils uplifted by the 1931 Napier earthquake, yields Chardonnays of exceptional purity. Esk Valley is also known for major strides in sustainable wine-growing, including a 35% reduction in carbon emissions per bottle.
Awards & Critic Scores
The 2021 Seabed Chardonnay is widely acclaimed: ranked in the top echelon of Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays, it receives consistent critic scores above 91/100, with a top 94/100 from Wine Anorak. On Vivino, it enjoys a rating of 4.0, confirming its appeal among wine lovers and critics alike.
What makes Hawke's Bay special?
Hawke’s Bay is special because it is New Zealand’s oldest wine region and was recently recognised as one of the world’s prestigious Great Wine Capitals, alongside Bordeaux and Napa Valley. The region enjoys abundant sunshine, a range of diverse soils, and a long growing season - ideal for producing red blends (especially Merlot/Cabernet), Syrah, and rich, complex Chardonnay. Hawke’s Bay is also celebrated for its innovative winemaking culture and leading sustainable practices, all set amid stunning landscapes and a thriving food and wine tourism scene.
Description
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 balances creamy texture and flinty freshness, layered with stone fruit and subtle oak. Produced by a sustainability leader in New Zealand from a distinctive seabed vineyard, it comes highly rated by critics and wine enthusiasts, standing as a benchmark for Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay.
Taste
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2021 displays a creamy, layered palate brimming with flavours of white peach, grapefruit, Brazil nut and lemon, underpinned by flinty, saline minerality. Notes of vanilla, panna cotta and a trace of toasted oak create complexity, while lively acidity brings freshness and balance. The finish is long, textured, and elegant - perfectly expressing its unique Hawke’s Bay seabed terroir.
Producer
Esk Valley is a boutique winery rooted in Hawke’s Bay and renowned for traditional, hands-off winemaking and a strong focus on sustainability. Led for decades by Gordon Russell and now by Richard Painter (NZ Winemaker of the Year 2018), the estate champions low-intervention methods, hand-harvesting, and meticulous small-batch craftsmanship. The Seabed vineyard, planted with Burgundy clone 95 in 2001 on former estuary soils uplifted by the 1931 Napier earthquake, yields Chardonnays of exceptional purity. Esk Valley is also known for major strides in sustainable wine-growing, including a 35% reduction in carbon emissions per bottle.
Awards & Critic Scores
The 2021 Seabed Chardonnay is widely acclaimed: ranked in the top echelon of Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays, it receives consistent critic scores above 91/100, with a top 94/100 from Wine Anorak. On Vivino, it enjoys a rating of 4.0, confirming its appeal among wine lovers and critics alike.
What makes Hawke's Bay special?
Hawke’s Bay is special because it is New Zealand’s oldest wine region and was recently recognised as one of the world’s prestigious Great Wine Capitals, alongside Bordeaux and Napa Valley. The region enjoys abundant sunshine, a range of diverse soils, and a long growing season - ideal for producing red blends (especially Merlot/Cabernet), Syrah, and rich, complex Chardonnay. Hawke’s Bay is also celebrated for its innovative winemaking culture and leading sustainable practices, all set amid stunning landscapes and a thriving food and wine tourism scene.
