THE NED CHARDONNAY 2025

TASTING NOTE

Fragrant mandarin, citrus and white nectarine aromas are layered with vanilla and a hint of butterscotch. Rich creaminess from a near full malolactic conversion and lively acidity is supported by a fine oak tannin that lends a warm French oak spice to the palate.

FOOD MATCHING

A food-friendly style that will compliment a broad array of cuisine, from light seafood and salad dishes to white meat and creamy pasta. Try this Chardonnay together with Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Crafted to be enjoyed at the peak of its vibrancy and freshness, we recommend drinking this wine within 2-3 years of vintage date.

ORIGIN

Marlborough, New Zealand

WINEMAKING

Ripe chardonnay fruit was completely destemmed before being gently pressed and the juice settled prior to fermentation. Fermentation was carried out in a mixture of 500 L French oak puncheons and temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks.
Following fermentation, the wine was aged on full yeast lees for a further 9 months with periodic yeast lees stirring to build mouthfeel. During this time a portion of the batches underwent malolactic fermentation adding further texture and complexity.

ANALYSIS

• Alcohol 13.5%
• pH 3.43
• Titratable Acidity 4.81g/L
• Residual Sugar 2.1g/L
• Vegan Certified

VINTAGE

One of Marlborough’s larger harvests due to near optimal flowering and fruit set conditions during the final months of 2024. The 2025 growing season began with budburst under warm, sunny weather, allowing vines to make full use of the ample soil moisture retained from winter and the majority of spring was fortunately frost free.

Throughout the early part of the season, Marlborough experienced warm, sunny, and relatively dry conditions, despite a few intense rain events in late October and again mid to late December. The key summer ripening period continued this pattern of favourable weather—warm, sunny, and dry — even though January ranked among the coolest since 2000.

Harvest commenced under sunny skies in March and concluded a month later.

Right in the heart of the magical Waihopai Valley, a million miles from anywhere, lies The Ned - one of Marlborough's most famous peaks - and the childhood playground for founder and winemaker, Brent Marris. It's a place where nights are two degrees colder and days two degrees hotter. Where possibilities take hold and good times unfold, where the young at heart thrive. And where there's liveliness and adventure in every bottle.