Chardonnay

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is an appealing, nice entry-level chardonnay that delivers everything with a degree of restraint. Lemony, nutty notes on the nose capture the variety, while the palate combines a textural creaminess with a fine, crisp, chalky acidity. Neatly framed and ideal for current drinking.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

I loved this wine when it was introduced a few years ago, and I'm warming to it once again. It's from a single site with the heritage clone chardonnay, so it is quite specific. The aroma is absolutely captivating, a maze of complexity, with savoury meringue, brioche and lightly lemony notes all swirling through an engaging aromatic intensity. The palate...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

These chardonnays from Vasse Felix over the last few years are really starting to hit their straps. They seem to be allowed to release more of the flavour intensity, and the result is a wine of immense appeal. At the same time, it retains that essential linear, crunchy acidity that is a feature of the style. This one has a...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

You really are getting some high-class chardonnay at this price. It's a terrific wine, one of the best yet under the label. Slightly nutty, savoury notes on the nose, with a little nectarine stone fruit. The palate has a deep intensity as a result of the vintage, but there's also a delicate restraint that allows the wine to focus into...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

An immediately more powerful and generous style compared with the slightly more linear Karridale chardonnay. Generous and intense it might be, but there is refinement and restrained poise that captures a distinctive house style. Butterscotch, lime and pear characters on the nose, followed by a more deeply complex palate of ripe stone fruit, a little brioche and a trace of...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a delightfully elegant and keenly refined chardonnay that delivers with Karridale cool-climate restraint. The aromas show nice cut lime and nectarine with a little meringue-like character. The palate is finely crafted, with a mineral, slightly oyster-shell edginess giving it definition and supporting its linear structure. Precise and focused, with chalky, crisp acidity.

Western Australia

Chardonnay

Crunchy and flavoursome, light-bodied yet generous chardonnay. Nice melony citrus aromas engage immediately, followed by a soft, creamy and deliciously flavoured palate delivering all you could want at this price point. Crisp, fine acidity and a touch of savouriness provide palate definition. Nice current drinking wine.

Pemberton

Chardonnay

Made from fruit sourced from Pemberton, this is quite distinct from the Estate Reserve from the Wilyabrup vineyard. Made along similar lines, but the result is finer and leaner, with beautiful aromatics of light citrus and quince, a little fresh sea spray and a palate that is fine, linear and deeply intense. Wonderful purity, with crunchy, cracked-seashell characters adding complexity....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

From vines that are part of the original Sandalford Margaret River vineyard, this has been treated with kid gloves from the start, with handpicking, whole-bunch pressing and fermentation in French barriques using wild yeasts. Richness and texture allow the full range of varietal characters to emerge. Nutty, creamy stone fruit on the nose leads to a deep, concentrated and textured...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

You're getting a smart chardonnay at this price point reflecting more sophisticated winemaking than you might expect. For instance, it was whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak, where it was fermented, allowing the textural and complex influences of the oak to work into the chardonnay. Aromas of nectarine and white peach typical of this variety, but then a palate that...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Chardonnay emerged from this very warm vintage quite well, having been picked early in the season. In this case, it is a light to medium-bodied example that was wild fermented in oak, with a little bâtonnage to bring creamy complexity. At the same time, it retains bright acidity and liveliness through the palate, with some nice roasted cashew and savoury...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A fine and delicate chardonnay reflecting this beautiful cooler season in Margaret River. It's an elegant and most pristine expression of the variety. On the nose, you get a nice mix of nougat, lemon meringue and a little bright stone fruit. And then the palate delivers more citrusy grapefruit characters filled with some nice peachy stone fruit. A nice crisp...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

This is an exceptional 100% chardonnay sparkling wine that comes out of the Pemberton region. It's a delicately refined sparkling wine but with penetration and length. Aromas of lemon brioche and subtle saline notes a little sea spray. Then a palate that is balanced and linear. Has some lovely crunchy fruit with the added complexity coming from 18 months on...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the pinnacle of Howard Park's white wines. It comes off the Allingham block at Karridale and is all Gingin clone. It's a wine of pristine purity, which comes no doubt from the handpicking, whole-bunch pressing and fruit selection before fermentation in wild yeasts in a mix of small and big format French oak. The lees were stirred and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This comes from the Allingham vineyard at Karridale, just south of Margaret River. It is a supremely elegant and expressive chardonnay from a cool southern site. There is a distinctive chalky, flinty character that defines modern Margaret River chardonnay, combining power with finesse. Wild yeast fermentation occurred in mostly larger-format Burgundian oak, with lees handling and bâtonnage during maturation. The...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine that shows the vintage well, with its combination of delicacy and flavour. It is fermented in a mix of 50% French oak (of which 10% is new) and 50% stainless steel. The stainless steel component brings freshness, purity and vibrancy. Ten months on lees, with some lees stirring, adds layered textural complexity. Creamy with light stone fruit flavours,...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

These chardonnays from Gralyn are now consistently among the top shelf of Margaret River chardonnays. This one captures the season, which was quite warm, and yet the wine produced retains a certain delicacy and refinement. Lovely florals on the nose, with a little struck match and spicy citrus overtones. And then a palate that is the result of wild-yeast ferments...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine that differentiates from the Purus, and there is more winemaking artefact. But at the same time, it never goes over the top. It's always with restraint, with an eye on elegance and delicacy. There's a beautiful honeycomb, butterscotch and quince-paste combination on the nose. And then the palate, which is a creamy richness, but once again presented with...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

There is such a compelling clarity and purity about this wine, which Dukes makes with a clear mandate to capture the fruit and present it through to a fine, uncompromised palate. Nice notes of florals and white peach, a little subtle oak, and then a palate that is rich with a slight oatmeal-type flavour, balancing some light cashew and citrus....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a beautifully crafted entry-level chardonnay into Bruce Dukes' full suite of wines. Bright white peach and nectarine tones on the nose, a little nutty nuance and a splash of citrus. It's classically chardonnay. And then the palate has a nice creaminess about it, but it's held with control, thanks to fine, limestone-y acidity and a little bit of...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

In this warm season, this wine has been handled impeccably well. The colour has a slightly golden hue, but the nose is a beautiful mix of quince paste and stone fruit, with a little honeycomb complexity. The palate has tremendous intensity and fruit concentration, supported by slightly chalky, crisp acidity and harnessed with some nice oak integration. It has had...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A generous and intense chardonnay from this excellent season for white wines. It does show the results of the warmer vintage, but it still retains a tight, structured feel that gives it tremendous definition. Nutty, creamy stone-fruit notes on the nose capture the variety, while the palate has generous flavours, tightened with a little twist of lemon and fine, precise...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Mandoon's southern vineyard at Karridale is the source of this excellent chardonnay. Whole-bunch pressed into French barriques, with natural ferments, has contributed to a wine that is both texturally pleasing and preserves a fine linear thread. Light stone fruit and cream with subtle nutty quince-paste aromatics. The palate is delightfully vibrant, with zingy acidity lifting and sustaining the wine through...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

In this case, winemaker Ryan Sudano has gone to the cooler environs of Karridale, well to the south of Margaret River. It's a region that really does suit sparkling wine chardonnay. There is a lovely, slightly nutty, citrusy purity in this wine. Then some lovely secondary characters have developed over seven years on lees, where subtle autolysis has worked its...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the most elegant and stylish light-bodied chardonnay. It was whole-bunch pressed and wild yeast fermented. Then had six months in oak, so it hasn't seen an excessive amount of oak and yet the fruit has developed harmony and complexity. On the nose, there's a minerally sea spray citrus combination. And then the palate is really finely crafted and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the pinnacle of the Amelia Park chardonnay. This one was whole bunch pressed and wild fermented in the larger format puncheons. So, it's a wine that has been allowed to express the beautiful fruit characters that came from the early picking in this warm year. Aromas of nougat and butterscotch with a little cut pear. And then a...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is such a beautifully textured and presented chardonnay from a season that produced both opulence and a degree of delicacy. Aromas of white peach and butterscotch, with a little citrus and a subtle spiciness. The palate is rich and textured with layered complexity. Delivering with a burst of stone fruit but balanced by a fine, precise linear acidity. So,...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Once again, this is a blend of clones, in this case, Gingin and Bernard, which contributes to its complexity and structure. It was fermented in a mix of French oak with wild yeast and then spent nine months on lees. It’s a linear expression of chardonnay, and yet there is good texture and richness throughout the palate as it extends...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Excellent chardonnay that captures the concentration and yet degree of delicacy from the ’25 vintage. It’s a mix of Gingin and Dijon clones, and I suspect that Dijon component’s just added that sense of refinement and lightness of touch to the awesome power of the Gingin. Melony citrus, lightly butterscotch notes on the nose. Then an almost racy palate, showing...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine that pays suitable homage to the McHenry matriarch, Hazel. This is a wine of such distinction. The aromas have a wonderful mix of minerally oyster shell, grapefruit, with traces of brioche and crème brûlée. The palate is an incredible experience of depth, of power, of concentration, and ultimately of poise and refinement. It’s so beautifully harnessed and composed...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is generally the more opulent of the chardonnays, and yet in this case it appears to have been made with a little more restraint, creating a wine that retains its tremendous fruit concentration but presents with a distinctly more linear, refined elegance. Aromas of white peach and nectarine dominate and traces of butterscotch add further complexity. Palate is so...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine that captures the vineyard character perfectly. This is always a finer, more linear style among the suite of McHenry Hohnen chardonnays. But in this year it’s got a little more weight and textural feel. Savory quince-like aromas. A little cashew. They’re all swirling through the nose. And then a palate which delivers with tremendous power and drive, held...

Manjimup

Chardonnay

Takes the Four Kings up a notch with greater intensity and layered complexity. Aromas of crème brûlée and vanilla bean with a minerally lemon pith character. Palate shows some nice nougat meal and grapefruit with a light savoury nuance. It’s balanced and composed, delivering with linear direction.

Manjimup

Chardonnay

A neatly composed chardonnay from a season that produced some very good white wines. Typical cool climate, citrus and lemon aromatics with some nice grapefruit characters. The palate is fine and quite linear with a minerally cracked seashell character. Has a slight creaminess to it, which is cut with that grapefruit edge and a slightly savory finish to complete an...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The chardonnays from Brown Hill have consistently improved over the years, and this is another excellent example from this slightly warmer year that produced fruit of generosity but still a degree of elegance. Citrus floral notes open with a slight lemon meringue note and then a palate which is crisp and pure with dominant stone fruit and cut lime characters....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Karridale, to the south of Margaret River, is the source of this excellent wine. The nose immediately strikes with a slightly struck-match intensity. Some lemon blossom, white peach, and a subtle oyster shell minerality. The palate is tightly controlled with fine acidity, some deftly integrated French oak, and plenty of that intense fruitiness.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Balanced and composed chardonnay that fits snugly into the current short-term drinking zone. Some nice creamy stone fruit, melony citrus characters. And then a palate with fresh fruit dominance and just a little oak to add some complexity. There’s a fine linear feel. Lovely current drinking wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

An elegant and finely structured single vineyard wine from Wallcliffe. The aroma is quite captivating with its distinct minerally citrus edge. A touch of oyster shell and sea spray providing a lift. Palate is tightly woven with a light, fine, chalky acidity. Well-managed oak which sits comfortably within, and that distinctly linear fruit line carries through to the finish. There's...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A distinctly fruit-driven style of early-drinking chardonnay. Aromas of light cashew and melon with a squeeze of citrus provide an enticing opening. And then the palate, which is neatly balanced and a suggestion of light oak, but it is really about the fruit, which is harnessed by a crisp, fine acidity and carries easily through to a long finish. Ideal...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Designed as a friendly and approachable young chardonnay, bursting with abundant fruit characters from the outset. Classical stone fruit with nectarine and white peach on the nose. Then a palate that’s creamy, rich and flavoursome, with a nice oak and acid balance to the fruit sweetness. There’s a subtle lemon curd and honeycomb character that adds further complexity on the...