Rod McDonald Wines Quarter Acre Chardonnay

Rod McDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o. As a kid growing up he spent every minute he could on the family farm. The early starts, sunsets and sunrises, walking the dog and listening to Grandad’s stories at the family table over a good feed and a bottle or two of something special.

Rod spent nine years as winemaker at Vidal Estate and went on to win NZ Winemaker of the Year in 2006, the glory days (his words, not ours!). He went on to start Rod McDonald Wines, now known as Te Awanga Estate.

When it comes to his Quarter Acre range Rod wants to make wines that they love to drink. In the case of the Quarter Acre Chardonnay that means fruit from the Doc’s Block and twenty year old Mendoza vines, hand harvested fruit and fermented wild in 100% French oak, aged on yeast lees for 10 months.

In fact Rod reckons this 2015 vintage was the best vintage from the Doc’s Block vineyard. Scoring 92/100 with Master of Wine Bob Campbell, Bob said “Appealing, flavoursome chardonnay with peach and grapefruit, plus a seasoning of ginger nut biscuit, brioche and a subtle floral note. The wine has an attractive fruit sweetness balanced by fruity acidity and gentle tannins.”