Les Beaux Cailloux
2016 - Gimblett Gravels Vineyard
Hawke's Bay
It is the soils of the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard that impart a finely textured mineral quality into the finished wine, unique to Chardonnay produced from this region. Finely flavoured, complex, taut.
"One of our most precious Chardonnays, once grown at our Gimblett Gravels Vineyard."
Matt Stafford, Chief Winemaker
2016
Pale straw colour. Aromatic charm aplenty with subtle notes of ripe peach, honey roasted nuts and lemon blossom. Lithe and long across the palate. Mid palate fruit richness is tempered by fine acidity and a lovely textural seam. Finishes dry and delicious.
Poultry dishes
6-8 years from vintage
2011
Pale straw colour. Ripe peach, honey and lemon blossom create an intense bouquet with subtle toasted oak notes. Balanced and elegant on the palate. Refreshing acidity gives length whilst oak and fruit meld into complex layers of flavour with great textural interest.
Poultry
6-8 years from vintage
2010
Very pale straw colour with youthful green hues. Lifted lemon blossom and heady wind fallen citrus aromas provide a floral complexity. This is combined with mineral notes of flint and a piercing fruit core of white peach. The palate has intense fruit flavours and is balanced and tempered by fresh acidity and a chalky texture. This wine is testimony to this great Hawke's Bay Chardonnay vintage.
Shellfish
7-10 years from vintage
2009
Very pale straw colour with youthful green hues. Floral aromatics of citrus blossom, acacia and clover honey meld with mineral characters of chalk dust and flint. Manadarin zest and lemon fruit flavours are given life and freshness via electric acidity. This is our most delicate and aromatic Les Beaux Cailloux yet with trademark power and length.
Shellfish
7-10 years from vintage
2008
Pale straw colour. An aromatic array comprising of flint, peach pip, lemon blossom and hazelnut characters mesh for a complex bouquet. The palate possesses richness and warmth which is framed and balanced by a subtle phenolic texture and fresh acidity. Rich, complex and long.
Rich shellfish
5-7 years from vintage
2007
Medium straw colour streaked with silver hues. Aromatically complex with citrus blossom, lemon zest, peach and baguette crust. This wine is tightly woven with taut acidity providing a tensile line through the palate which allows the complex flavours to unfold slowly. Summer fruits, cashew and faint vanilla spring to mind.
Rich shellfish
6-10 years from vintage
2006
Medium straw colour streaked with green. Complex aromatics of citrus blossom, lemon zest, peach kernel with a creamy yeast lees note. The palate has immense power of ripe fruits, finely balanced acidity and a smooth oak background supporting the fruit flavours that provide a richly flavoured wine of great poise and length.
Rich seafood
6-8 years from vintage
2005
Medium straw colour streaked with green. Complex aromatics of citrus blossom, lemon zest, peach kernel with a Straw in colour flecked with green. Aromas of peach, cream and hazelnut abound in a heady combination underpinned by zesty lemon notes. The palate is full bodied yet framed by bright acids that provide firmness, giving an elegance to the structure. Harmonious in all respects, perfectly balanced.
Shellfish
4-6 years from vintage
2004
Youthful pale straw/lemon in colour. Citrus blossom and peach kernel meld seamlessly with grilled almond and flinty mineral notes. The palate conveys warmth whilst being neatly framed and balanced by natural acidity. Generous flavours of grapefruit, Meyer lemon and almond are wrapped in a taught structure and provide a combination that will develop complexity.
Poultry
5 years from vintage
2002
In its youth the wine is pale straw/lemon in colour with complex aromas of ripe stonefruits, apples and preserved lemon complemented by roasted hazelnut and crème brûleé notes. The palate is initially forward and lush, with stonefruit and sweet apple flavours melded with hints of oatmeal, fresh grains and fine French oak.
Poultry
5-7 years from vintage
2001
In its youth the wine is pale straw/lemon in colour with complex aromas of ripe stonefruits, apples and preserved lemon complemented by roasted hazelnut and crème brûlée notes. The wine retains its typical bony texture to finish fine and long with just a hint of juicy fruit and acidity.
Poultry
5-7 years from vintage
GIMBLETT GRAVELS VINEYARD
GIMBLETT GRAVELS VINEYARD
Hawke's Bay
39° 35' 57.2"S
176° 44' 5.6"E
In 1876, great floods swept through Hawke's Bay. When they subsided, the Ngaruroro River had changed its course and a vista of gravel was left behind in a warm, sun-filled valley, greened lightly with spring rain. On the right bank of this old river is a collection of different soil mixes, stone and mineral rich, ideal for growing Syrah, Bordeaux-style reds and Chardonnay.
