Craggy Range Kidnappers Chardonnay 2025 750ml

92 Points – Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review

The cool yet sunny environment of our Te Awanga Vineyard near Cape Kidnappers allows the development of intense Chardonnay flavours in the grapes, captured using traditional winemaking techniques seen in the Chablis region of France.

Crafted in a traditional Chablis-inspired style, this vintage combines bright citrus and stone fruit with subtle French oak and distinctive coastal salinity. Aromas of lemon curd, fresh lime and white blossom are complemented by hints of sea spray and minerality. The palate delivers preserved lemon and white peach, supported by lively acidity and a fine, chalky texture.

Fresh and precise rather than heavily oaked, this is an elegant Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay with excellent balance between fruit, texture and mineral freshness. It is particularly well suited to seafood, fresh pasta and summer salads.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Lemon curd, fresh lime, white blossom, subtle minerality and sea spray
• Palate: Preserved lemon, white peach, subtle oak and bright coastal salinity
• Finish: Fresh, chalky and refined with a lingering saline character
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vintage: 2025
• Region: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand