Heartwood Chardonnay Tony Bish is a rich, expressive New Zealand Chardonnay that steps confidently away from the classic New World mould. With oak handled in a masterful, restrained manner, vibrant fruit takes centre stage, creating an elegance worthy of comparison with Burgundy’s most illustrious domaines. James Suckling clearly agrees, awarding it an impressive 92 points.
When Tony Bish founded his own winery in 2014, he already had more than 40 harvests under his belt. He knew exactly the style of wines he wanted to create—and how to achieve the quality he was aiming for. If you want to truly understand New Zealand Chardonnay, he is unquestionably the man to follow. Widely regarded as the “king” of Chardonnay in New Zealand, he has dedicated himself exclusively to this single variety. His philosophy is built on innovation and precision: he was the first to introduce concrete and French oak “egg‑shaped” (ovum) fermenters to New Zealand, in his quest for greater purity of expression, texture and complexity in his Chardonnays.
The grapes for Heartwood Chardonnay Tony Bish come from two of Hawke’s Bay’s finest vineyards, Two Terraces and Kokako Farms, where harvesting is carried out by hand. Fermentation takes place in a combination of new and seasoned barriques. Once fermentation is complete, the wine matures in the same barrels for 11 months, before the final blend is assembled using only the very best casks.
If you love the rich, layered white wines of Burgundy but are equally drawn to generous, expressive fruit, then Heartwood Chardonnay Tony Bish is guaranteed to steal your heart.
