Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers Announce the Hawkes Bay Chardonnay Collection 2020

Hawke’s Bay winemakers were invited to submit Chardonnays from the 2020 vintage for consideration. Cameron Douglas, MS conducted a blind tasting of the wines submitted. Cameron expressed he was honoured to be involved, finding the selection enjoyable yet challenging due to the high calibre of entrants.

This is the second Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Collection, the inaugural collection launched in 2020 – 12 of the best wines from the region produced in 2019 – all selected by Cameron Douglas MS – several labels have made it back into the 2020 collection, establishing their place in the top twelve yet again.

For more about the Hawke’s Bay wine region click HERE:

A note from the selector – Cameron Douglas MS – February 2022

“I knew that the quality of Chardonnay samples for the second annual Hawke’s Bay Collection would be high. I was somewhat primed for this by the overall quality of other 2020 styles and varieties from around Aotearoa that arrived on my desk in the months and weeks leading up to the Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay selection process.”

“What I didn’t quite expect was how excellent every single wine was going to be. All the wines in the line-up are individually expressive and many spoke of place and time, the winemaker’s interpretation of site with a dream vintage for many this showcased chardonnay’s suitability to the Hawke’s Bay region.”

“Probably one of the hardest wine evaluation and selection tastings I have completed and what a fantastic day it was. In the end I chose to find a top 24 first, focusing on completeness and complexity, texture and concentration from which I selected this year’s top 12.”

“Tasting, evaluating, judging and educating consumers (and students) about fine New Zealand wine has been a major part of my career for over thirty years. Learning the intricacies of vineyard management and winemaking; how season, climate and the influences of soil and vine health produce fine wine is always ongoing for me, and being asked to evaluate this line-up of fine wines of one variety, from one region and one vintage is an exceptional opportunity.”

“This time around I had fifty-seven wines, all vintage 2020, from which to select – all were tasted blind in short flights to maintain temperature, integrity and fairness to each wine, and were re-tasted later in the day for confirmation.”

“Congratulations to all the producers who entered and the teams behind each wine.”

Watch this short video where Cameron gives a brief overview of what it’s like to judge and select Hawkes Bay’s finest 2020 Chardonnay Collection.

This Year’s Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Collection 2021

Askerne Reserve Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$35.00 – https://askernewines.co.nz/

Bilancia Tiratore Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$90.00 – https://bilancia.co.nz/

Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$45.00 – https://www.clearviewestate.co.nz/

Collaboration Wines Aurulent Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$38.00 – https://collaborationwines.co.nz/

Coopers Creek ‘Swamp Reserve’ Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$38.00 – https://www.cooperscreek.co.nz/

Elephant Hill ‘Salome’ Chardonnay 2020 – RRP: $75.00 – https://elephanthill.co.nz/

Helio Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$35.00 – https://helio.wine/

Squawking Magpie Gravels Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$26.00 – https://squawkingmagpie.co.nz/

Te Awanga Estate Quarter Acre Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$40.00 – https://teawangaestate.co.nz/

Tony Bish Heartwood Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$35.00 – https://tonybishwines.co.nz/

Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$80.00 – https://www.trinityhill.com/

Villa Maria Keltern Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 – RRP:$80.00 – https://www.villamariawines.com/