Blends of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are one of the most challenging and exciting wine styles to produce. There is a synergy between these two varieties that produces some of the most complete, complex, fragrant and satisfying styles of red wine in the world. Hawke's Bay, along with parts of the California's Napa Valley, was identified by the U.K's Decanter magazine, as one of the few New World wine regions that could challenge Bordeaux in the production of such wines.

A fuller bodied Chardonnay balanced by gentle, fresh acidity and a spine of slate-like minerality. Fresh zesty citrus and citrus blossom notes are to the fore with riper, richer stonefruit underlying and providing extra depth. The fruit is overlaid with complexities of roasted nuts, toasted brioche, and a hint of struck flint and gun smoke. Already drinking exceptionally well, with age the wine will develop more complex, savoury nuttiness and will gain breadth and richness on the palate.

A complex array of dense plum and berry fruits with subtle spice and violet-like floral aromas are complimented by savoury, earthy and dark chocolate undertones derived from barrel maturation and a traditional, 'old-world approach' to winemaking. On the palate, the wine is rich and powerful with a backbone of fine, ripe tannins bringing linearity and structure. This is a serious, multidimensional wine.

With grapes from the world's leading pinot noir region making a guest appearance, Church Road's award winning winemaker, Chris Scott, has hand crafted an exceptional wine that combines elegance and undeniable presence.

On the nose, a core of dark berry fruit is overlaid with fragrant violet, rose, exotic spice and hints of cracked pepper whilst subtle, savoury oak adds complexity and a chocolate-like richness. The palate is full but finely structured with excellent persistence and focus coming from balanced acidity and ripe tannins.

Named in honour of Gwen, the Wife of Tom McDonald, father of Church Road. Gwen explores a more elegant and refined style of winemaking. Gwen Chardonnay is a dry, elegant and refreshing Chardonnay with exceptional length and finesse. On the nose, the wine is reminiscent of citrus and ripe apple with citrus blossom and acacia floral notes. Subtle mineral complexity provides depth and interest, while there is a gentle creamy richness adding a more textural element to the palate.

Named in honour of Gwen, the Wife of Tom McDonald, father of Church Road. Gwen explores a more elegant and refined style of winemaking. Gwen Pinot Gris is a dry, fresh and mineral driven wine with exceptional length and finesse on the palate. On the nose, the wine is reminiscent of ripe autumn orchard fruit, lifted by notes of honeysuckle with a savoury complexity and subtle minerality providing depth and interest. Match with a range of fresh salads, seafood, poultry and cold cuts.

Named in honour of Gwen, the Wife of Tom McDonald, father of Church Road. Gwen explores a more elegant and refined style of winemaking. Gwen Rosé is an off dry and finely textured Syrah rosé with subtle red fruit, floral notes, spice, and an underlying creaminess. On the palate, gentle acidity and a slatey minerality make this a sophisticated drink that will work well as an aperitif or as a versatile food wine. A great match with a range of fresh salads, seafood, poultry, and cold cuts.

The McDonald Series wines are an expression of both their fruit and the vision of their namesake winemaker. This full-bodied wine is packed with layers of rich berry fruit, cassis and dark cacao notes, along with lifted cedar and thyme aromas. While impressive now, the powerful yet fine-grained tannin structure ensures great longevity. This wine is unfined and unfiltered to preserve quality. Some precipitate may form with time and decanting is recommended.

The McDonald Series wines are an expression of both their fruit and the vision of their namesake winemaker. The finest free run juice was barrel fermented in predominantly older French oak to produce this finely textured, elegant Chardonnay. Vibrant citrus and stonefruit flavours are overlaid with subtle creamy oak and complexities of toasted hazelnut and brioche.

The McDonald Series wines are an expression of both their fruit and the vision of their namesake winemaker. Grown on gravel soils in Hawke's Bays' warmest sub regions, these vineyards typically produce rich Merlot displaying dense, brooding plum and dark berry fruit. This is complimented by subtle notes of violet, spice, earthy undertones and hints of dark chocolate. The palate is rich, weighty and long, driven by a firm yet fine-grained tannin structure. For quality reasons this wine is unfiltered and decanting is recommended.

The McDonald Series wines are an expression of both their fruit and the vision of their namesake winemaker. Grown in Church Road's Matapiro Vineyard on the Crownthorpe Terraces, this is a full bodied, powerful style of Pinot Gris with a medium level of sweetness. Wonderfully aromatic with poached pear, stone fruit, rose and ginger, complimented by subtle complexity from wild fermentation and lees aging.