Paritua Willow Chardonnay / 2025 / 750mL

The Paritua Willow Chardonnay 2025 is a bright, fruit-forward white from Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island. It sits on the fresher side of the Chardonnay spectrum, with clear stone fruit and citrus rather than weight or richness.

White peach, nectarine and lemon curd lead the aroma, with a touch of nashi pear and a faint lift of white blossom. The palate follows through with yellow peach and grapefruit, a hint of almond meal adding interest in the background.

Texture is the strength here: a soft, slightly creamy middle held in check by clean acidity that runs the length of the wine. The finish is dry and citrus-edged, with good length for a Chardonnay at this level and no heaviness to slow it down.

Serve it with roast chicken and tarragon, grilled snapper, prawn linguine, or a wedge of Gruyère with pear. It also handles mildly spiced dishes such as a coconut-based curry better than most whites.

Drink from now through to around 2029. The 2025 is approachable immediately, though a year or two in the cellar will soften the citrus edge and let the stone fruit fill out.