Chardonnay

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine that has continue to evolve over the years and now has a distinctive style that is all about friendly expression of fruit with a little subtle unobtrusive oak inclusion. Nice melony cashew characters with a gentle hint of stone fruit adding richness. It’s a light bodied style that screams out for drinking in the next few years. Crunchy...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This will sit alongside anything Peterkin has made in more than four decades as one of the finest winemakers in the region. It is a cracking good wine delivered with precision and power with a degree of delicacy and finesse that makes it so appealing. Incredible intensity on the nose with aromas of white peach and grapefruit with a little...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Mike Peterkin holds back a little of his chardonnay each year for this vintage reserve release. It means you are forced to keep your hands off it until release. It was a vintage that suited chardonnays, and this is a cracker. It’s quite fine and delicate and only just starting to show traces of development with a roasted cashew and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The chardonnays of Victory Point continue to evolve and are now consistently among the best in Margaret River. This was from a season that was very hot early, about the time chardonnay was vintaged, but it has retained a precise acidity while also revealing a generous textured quality. Lifted lemon curd and vanilla bean notes on the nose with traces...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

I reckon this will be a real crowd pleaser. The winemaking influence is more obvious than the reserve version, but it is done so well. The barrel fermentation and lees maturation certainly create a most beautiful aromatic and palate combination. Has a spicy grapefruit and subtle struck match palate with a nice balance of vanilla bean. Balance and palate length...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the top of the wazzer chardonnay and comes from an outstanding season. It is one of the best yet under this label. It was put together with largely traditional techniques after hand picking, including whole bunch pressing and barrel fermentation before extended lees work. On the nose subtle notes of gun metal and struck match overlay deeper notes...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

Beautifully crafted chardonnay demonstrating the virtues of Pemberton as a chardonnay region. The aromas are a mix of vanilla and butterscotch with a little lemon curd complexity. Flavours are intense and concentrated but with an effortless feel about them. Slightly nutty cashew with a spicy lift emerging. Classy wine.

Perth Hills

Chardonnay

A bit of winemaking has gone into this tidy young chardonnay. It was fermented in a combination of new French oak, ceramic egg and stainless steel and then went through a period of battonage after fermentation. It’s a light to medium bodied wine with a good textural feel carrying a mix of cashew and lemon curd with a lift of...

Geographe

Chardonnay

A highly expressive chardonnay from this outstanding vintage. The aroma immediately makes a statement with its intense notes of struck match, lemon curd and a subtle savoury character. The palate has plenty of punch. The fruit was handpicked, whole bunch pressed to new and one-year-old French oak. There is a driving intensity about the palate which extends easily to a...

Geographe

Chardonnay

Here is a chardonnay designed for early drinking. It’s loaded with racy honeydew melon, lemon citrus and a light floral note. The palate is clean and crisp with good intensity supported and driven by a fine linear acidity. Crunchy lively finish

New South Wales

Chardonnay

This is a combination of Tumbarumba, Tasmania Adeliade Hills fruit. The Tumbarumba input of 61% results from this region having one of its greatest ever vintages. It’s quite a departure from previous vintages which have been predominantly Tasmanian fruit. There are aromas of cut hay and lemon curd with dried herbs and savoury water cracker character. The palate is deeply...

South Australia

Chardonnay

Continues the great tradition this 100% Adelaide Hills chardonnay. This turned out to be a small vintage but there is obvious power inherent in the fruit. Aromas of spice and lemon curd with a faint hint of struck match character. The palate is super intense and layered with powerful fruit combinations. Degree of bees wax and lemon curd with a...

South Australia

Chardonnay

This is a chardonnay sourced from various vineyards in South Eastern Australia. The colour is typically pale straw and light yellow. The nose displays a powdery character with traces of lemon and creme brulee deeper within. Quite spice with traces of cashew richness. The palate is powerful and structured with a lemon zest and nutty creamy character. Finishes with a...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Provides a striking difference from the Barrels of Metricup, as a result of the more typical gravelly loam soils of the vineyard. After handpicking it was fermented in 50% amphorae and the rest in barriques of which 30% was new. Only partial malolactic fermentation with regular lees stirring providing the textural input. A bracing and linear thread runs deep through...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The sandy loam soils of this mature vineyard play out a significant point of difference from other chardonnays in the region. It was all naturally fermented in barriques of which 20% was new and then went through with regular lees stirring and 10 months in oak. It’s alive with energy from the first burst on the nose. Layered with flavours...

Porongurup

Chardonnay

Diletti has built quite a bit if winemaking into this very good chardonnay from what was a cooler season. After barrel fermentation, extended lees contact with solids has built a rich textural element into the palate. Aromas of grapefruit and mealy cashew characters on the nose. The palate is rich, but the tight linear savoury element defines the focus and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A lighter bodied delicate chardonnay from this southern part of Margaret River. Yet the intensity and lingering fruit qualities are clearly evident. Bright citrus and nashi pear on the nose with just a hint of lightly roasted cashew. The palate comes to life with a minerally sea shell acidity. Neat little wine for the shorter term.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A fine and quite delicate chardonnay capturing all the qualities of this excellent vintage. Floral notes sync with light cashew and citrus melon notes. The palate is finely cut with a neat balance of integrated oak and fruit. Dry savoury notes to finish. An excellent example of a lighter style Margaret River chardonnay, combining power and delicacy.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Hay Shed Hill Morrison’s Gift chardonnay 2023 ($25) Made in honour of the early contribution of Barry and Liz Morrison. This is a lightly framed chardonnay based on excellent fruit that has been gently managed through the winery. The aim is for a light, balanced wine that expresses the fruit without too much winemaking evidence. Works well. Score: 89/100 Cellar:...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

There is a real intensity and purpose in this excellent chardonnay. But there is elegance and reserve at the same time. Aromas of quince paste and grapefruit with those subtle cashew characters in the background. Beautifully defined palate releases through to a sustained finish with a savoury influence over the dry chalky lemon zip characters.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A bright and fragrant chardonnay sourced from mature vines on the estate. After wild fermentation it saw 11 months in oak. The result is a delightful light-bodied but well-flavoured wine of subtlety and precision. Aromas of melon and lightly roasted cashew with a gentle lemon lift. The palate extends with a slightly savoury minerality through to a long finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Let’s cut to the chase. The finest Deep Woods chardonnay yet. It has it all. Great fruit has been harnessed with whole bunch pressing and fermentation in new and seasoned French oak. Further lees stirring has built in texture, contributing to a thoroughly beautiful, refined mouth feel. Opens with a stone fruit and savoury light lemon curd aromas. Peels off...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Gosh this is a good wine. The opening salvo on the nose is all minerally cracked seashell and bright florals. It’s engaging and enticing. Then the palate does its stuff. Intensely and tightly framed stone fruit characters with a minerally, slightly chalky citrus precision. Subtle struck match and flint complexity adds the final flourish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A remarkably sophisticated chardonnay in this price category. Aromas of light citrussy stone fruit with a little grapefruit influence. This is a medium weight wine with excellent fruit intensity and life from this super vintage. The oak influence is subdued and perfectly weighted for the fruit with just a faint new oak seasoning adding lift. Nice, precise wine, ideal over...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

This is chardonnay from Pemberton off gravelly soils that prove ideal for delivering a more restrained sparkling wine friendly fruit which in this case is a mix of Dijon clones. This vintage is so precise and steely with tremendous power and palate intensity. It gets 4 years on lees and 10% new oak. The cheeky aim is to make it...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Makes a quantum leap on many levels. Subtle florals of lemon and grapefruit with a little mealy lightly roasted almond character. The palate delivers with restraint and control but there is a deep and penetrating core with a neat savoury element. Traces of seas shell and lemon rind with a delicate chalky limestone character.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A light and fragrant chardonnay, but one with an intriguing complexity that emerges almost immediately. Light lemon meringue with a little grapefruit and roasted almond break out on the nose. The palate is precise and fine with a delicacy that belies the intensity driving through to a sustained finish. Has a chalky acid and slightly savoury finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A light and inviting fresh young chardonnay designed for immediate drinking. Light tropical and citrus notes on the nose move through to richer stone fruit characters. The palate is crisp and distinctly fruit-drive with a pleasing textural mouth feel.

Geographe

Chardonnay

This has been sourced from the Geographe region in what was an early concentrated vintage at the start of Covid. Just starting to develop subtle toasty nuances, while retaining its youthful lemon edge. Spicy nectarine and lemon curd with a dry savoury edge that completes a most attractive chardonnay. Palate is generous and seamlessly held together.

Pemberton

Chardonnay

One of the best chardonnays from Smithbrook in recent years. Really nails it in every way. Immediately opens with a mix of stone fruit and cutting lemon tang merging with a roasted almond character. The palate is intense and penetrating, with the support of a fine persistent acidity. Has a savoury minerally finish to complete a very tidy wine. Starting...

Mount Barker

Chardonnay

A wine brimming with ripe and intense stone fruit characters from the white peach and edgy nectarine notes on the nose through to the deeply intense palate. There’s a nice cashew and creamy peach thing happening on the palate with a fine acid adding precision and focus through to the finish. Really well managed wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the first time it was straight Gingin clone and was made before Tim Shand arrive as senior winemaker. Has a fine crystalline minerality that shines through on the nose and then into the palate. Fine savoury notes with a little white nectarine supported with neatly woven oak. Lightly flinty edges on the palate. There is restraint and reserve...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is an immediately different expression of chardonnay with its distinctive clonal influences. There is a mealy savoury character with an interesting water cracker wet pebble character in here. There is a subtle fragility about this one with a nice savoury character on the finish with its lip-smacking acidity. This is all clone 95 which contributes to the delicate style...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is quite a delicate and finessed chardonnay from this marvellous vintage. Has a lifted floral component on the nose with traces of nectarine and light lemon citrus. This is 60% Gingin and the remainder other clones. Starting to use more puncheons and less new oak with less malolactic fermentation, contributing to a fine acid and delicacy. But there is...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Comes from a mix of newer vines and some older vines. Only gets about 10% new oak and that’s it without additional oak influences. Fermented in special wedge-shaped concrete fermenters with the irregular internal surfaces making a contribution to the wine, especially with how the lees influence the wine. It’s delicate and beautifully textured with pristine and pure fruit expression.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Like the other two in this marvellous triumvirate, it shows the distinctive character of the vineyard. This has less volume and obvious weight compared to previous vintages, yet the vineyard character is still evident. More stone fruit and cashew with the lemon scented lift on the nose. The palate is richer and denser with great concentration held precisely by the...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The vineyard stamps its character on this from the get-go. Notes of lemon scents with lightly roasted cashew and faint struck match. The palate is intense and with a fine acidity and minerally character defining it through its linear range. Beautifully integrated and tightly coiled before releasing through to a sustained finish. A wine that will really show its true...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Traditionally the more delicate of the three top-tier chardonnays. This is a wonderful example of the vineyard and style. Fragrant and intense on the nose with floral grapefruit, cashew and light lemon curd influences. There’s a little of that limestone character as well adding to its crystalline feel. The palate is tightly wound and deeply powerful with a tight inner...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A beautifully weighted and intensely flavoured chardonnay from this excellent vintage. On the nose there’s a suggestion if quartz and limestone across light lemon scents. The palate reveals some subtle lees character with a faint flinty backdrop. It is remarkably powerful through the palate which extends purposefully to a very long finish. One of the best of these yet.

Western Australia

Chardonnay

A delightful sparkling wine from chardonnay. It’s delicate but at the same time there is excellent flavour intensity through a complete and integrated middle palate. Lifted citrus and lemony characters with a distinctive biscuit edge on the finish. Clean crisp finish.