Rapaura Springs Marlborough Chardonnay Reserve 2023

Rapaura Springs has an astonishing track record of Trophies and top points for its wines. It's owned by the Neylon family, who started their farming career with mussels and apples but found vines much more rewarding. They have vineyards throughout the best sites in Marlborough, and also work with a handful of skilled and loyal growers to gain access to the finest fruit. The result is knock-out wines like this. It's part fermented in French oak, part in stainless steel, to gain that optimum balance of rich spice and freshness, while just 10% goes through 'malo' – a method used in top Burgundy to lend creamy roundness. This is a luscious, complex white, with superb balance. A top choice with pork loin, panfried scallops and other seafood.