Chardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.0 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
1.4 g/L
pH
3.32
ACIDITY
5.6 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
VARIETY
Chardonnay
TIME IN OAK
11 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vinification details
Aged in 20% new oak for 11 months with full malolactic fermentation and lees stirring.
Awards
Vinous: 90 pts
Wine Advocate: 92 pts
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Tasting video
With winemaker Tim Bourne.
Recipe idea
Winemaker Larry McKenna has shared his favourite food pairing for Escarpment’s Chardonnay.
One of my favourites and a go to for larger groups is risotto. The main ‘fancy’ version to serve with Chardonnay is crayfish risotto. The other favourite is broad bean risotto (from the garden) and gives a vegetarian option.
Risotto is so versatile. It can be very rich and extravagant using meat/butter/fancy cheese and oils. It can be simple right down to just rice essentially. Very easy to create seasonal dishes such as the broad bean version. It does require time in the kitchen on the night but in my house that is all part of the same room pretty much so there is some theatre involved which seems popular especially if guests are ‘foodie’.
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Chardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
12.5 %
pH
3.22
ACIDITY
4.9 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vintage conditions
2018 can be considered a perfect, mild season, the summer allowing a normal crop load to ripen slowly.
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation with lees stirring.
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss

This [...] can certainly play on the world stage with the best of them.
JamesSuckling.comChardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
12.4 %
pH
3.13
ACIDITY
6.2 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation with lees stirring.
Awards
JamesSuckling.com: 96 pts
Decanter: 90 pts
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss
Chardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.7 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
0.7 g/L
pH
3.07
ACIDITY
6.4 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation with lees stirring.
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss

Medium-bodied, with a plump, succulent mouthfeel and a silky texture [...] The finish does a slow, elegant fade, adding to this wine's considerable appeal.
Wine AdvocateChardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.8 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
1.2 g/L
pH
3.25
ACIDITY
5.8 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
FINED USING
Milk
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
No
Vintage conditions
A windy spring resulted in smaller crops; followed by a warm, dry season that resulted in perfectly clean, ripe fruit.
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation with lees stirring.
Awards
Wine Advocate: 91 pts
JamesSuckling.com: 93 pts
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss

Elegantly constructed, it has depth, creaminess and great length with plenty of poise...what more could you want?
eRobertParker.comChardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with a delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish. Partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring has enhanced the texture, complexity and mouth feel allowing it to match most entrée dishes and seafood.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.5 %
pH
3.17
ACIDITY
6.7 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
TIME IN OAK
Milk
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
No
Awards
eRobertParker.com: 91 pts
Raymond Chan: 18
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss
Chardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
The summer allowed fruit to ripen impeccably, producing powerful, opulent flavours and a flinty, mineral backbone which combine beautifully with barrel fermentation to create Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with a delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish. Partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring has enhanced the texture, complexity and mouth feel.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.5 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.3 g/L
pH
3.08
ACIDITY
7.0 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
HARVEST DATE
April 2013
FINED USING
Milk
TIME IN OAK
12 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
Vintage conditions
Perfect weather in Martinborough during flowering in December 2012 resulted in an ideal crop which did not require thinning.
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, of which 15% were new where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation.
Awards
DWWA 2017: Gold
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss

Shows a slight silkiness to the texture, has a refreshing acid line and a long, citrus-laced finish.
eRobertParker.comChardonnay, Escarpment
Escarpment produce a Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay from its Te Muna Road site in Martinborough, New Zealand.
The 2012 summer allowed fruit to ripen slowly, producing powerful opulent flavours and a flinty mineral backbone. Flavours are reminiscent of white stone fruit with a delightful soft texture ensuring a long, commanding finish. Partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring has enhanced the texture, complexity and mouth feel.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
13.0 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.0 g/L
pH
3.27
ACIDITY
6.7 g/L
ORIGIN
New Zealand
WINEMAKER
Larry McKenna
VARIETY
Chardonnay
HARVEST DATE
April 2012
FINED USING
Milk, Isinglass
TIME IN OAK
12 months
SULPHUR
Total: 85 Free: 20
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Partial
CLOSURE
Screw top
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Martinborough
Vintage conditions
Perfect weather in Martinborough during flowering in December 2011 resulted in an ideal crop which did not require thinning. An uncharacteristically cool summer followed, creating the distinctive Escarpment style with complexity and attractive texture.
Vinification details
After hand harvesting, the grapes were whole bunch pressed. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, of which 15% were new where the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation.
Awards
eRobertParker.com: 91 pts
Green credentials
Member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
Contact us to discuss