2017 Foxes Island Indigenous Ferment Chardonnay – Awatere Valley Marlborough

A signature wine of the estate, cellar-aged for release

The 2017 Indigenous Ferment Chardonnay continues a legacy that began with the very first Foxes Island vintage in 1992—a wine that helped define the potential of New Zealand Chardonnay. More than three decades on, it remains a cornerstone of the estate and a benchmark for precision, structure, and age-worthy elegance.

Crafted by Winemaker John Belsham, whose international reputation has been built on producing some of New Zealand’s finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this wine reflects a philosophy grounded in discipline, restraint, and time. At Foxes Island, Chardonnay is not rushed to market—it is cellar-aged before release, allowing harmony, integration, and complexity to develop naturally.

The fruit is sourced from the upper terraces of the Awatere Valley estate, where deeper, undisturbed soils and a cool, dry climate produce Chardonnay of clarity, concentration, and natural tension. Fermented with indigenous vineyard yeasts and matured with a judicious use of French oak, the wine achieves a seamless balance of texture, richness, and precision—without overt oak influence.

The 2017 vintage is both generous and refined. Aromas of citrus blossom, white stone fruit, and subtle brioche lead into a palate of lemon curd, peach, chalk, and warm spice, carried by fine structure and vibrant acidity. The texture is layered yet controlled, offering depth without weight and length without excess.

A wine of pedigree and provenance, it speaks to the patience, tenacity, and quiet confidence required to produce wines that truly transcend time.

Drinking beautifully now, the 2017 Chardonnay will continue to evolve with further cellaring.

Note: Distribution is deliberately limited to ensure quality of placement and presentation.