Joelle Thomson

Wine writer and award winning wine author


What I am drinking, reading and savouring each week

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Tony Bish releases first Two Terraces Chardonnay

Tony Bish first released a small amount of his new 2023 Two Terraces Chardonnay for the 2024 Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction in September last year, which contributed towards the total of $335,697 raised for the Cranford Hospice. 

The wine tasted excellent at the auction where it had its first public outing. 

This is now the official new release of 2023 Two Terraces Chardonnay and it's even better, having evolved favourably over the past six months, revealing more weight and layers of flavour. 

18.5/20

2023 Two Terraces Single Vineyard Chardonnay RRP $69.99

This is the newest addition to Tony Bish’s growing Chardonnay stable and it benefits from spontaneous fermentation, lees ageing for 11 months and being bottled sans fining and filtration, all of which bring a rich, fleshy mouthfeel, creamy flavour nuances and a smoothness to this wine.

It is made from 100% Mendoza clone Chardonnay grapes which were hand picked from the Two Terraces Vineyard in Mangatahi, near to Maraekakaho, in Hawke’s Bay.

This elevated site provides excellence in the grapes grown on it thanks to free draining red metal sub-soils and a high diurnal variation, which both provide roundness and flesh as well as freshness.

This fleshy Chardonnay is youthful now and will reward ageing for up to five years, potentially longer.  

Vineyard owners Ian and Linda Quinn are champions of excellence.