Chardonnay

This new project has given us the opportunity to enjoy making another Macedon Ranges Chardonnay, this time from the north of the region on granite soil. The grapes come from 25 year old vines and the wine is made in the usual Bindi way; 100% wild yeast barrel fermentation, 30% new oak, and ageing for ten months on solids and lees. The wine is bright and combines citrus, white flowers, nectarine and complex nutty/mealy elements. The palate is fresh, tight, chalky, gently creamy and intense. It will gain increased texture and complexity with five years cellaring and be delicious beyond.   #NEWBINDI

I love the story of this wine, named after Kostas Rind, teacher, mentor and friend of Michael Dhillon’s father, Bill – more details on the back label. And I love the contents within, particularly this vintage. Richly filled with stone fruit, spiced lemon, frangipane-lined lime tart, plus spices. Neat acidity keeps check of the palate, which has depth, some weight and very good length. 96 points. Jane Faulkner Published 10 July 2023   An intense, mineral wine fully ripe but lean, taught and intense with savoury, creamy elements. Fragrant notes of orange blossom, nectarine stone, spice and subtle nuttiness are usual with a...

Less that 20% of the usual volume made. This wine is made without additions of yeast, nutrients or enzymes. Once the juice is in the barrel a small amount of sulphur is added and then we wait, usually about five days, for the fermentation to begin. The wine spent 10 months on yeast lees in French barrels, of which 25% were new, and was bottled in late February. Typical and distinctive aromas of grapefruit and lemon with jasmine blossom lift from the glass and with time gently creamy and savoury/spicy aromas emerge. The palate is full, fresh, chalky, zesty, harmonious and quite smooth. It’s early days and five years of careful cellaring...

James Halliday Wine Companion 95 points Shy at first, so decant this or get lots of air into the glass – swirl, swirl, swirl. Then out pops stone fruit, quince, too, with citrus juice, zest and pith, barrel ferment notes of creamy lees and some mouth-watering sulphides. Quite luscious and textural with creamed honey and lemon curd lees plus a savouriness throughout. Lots to like, with fine acidity rendering the finish long. 95 points. Jane Faulkner Published 13 January 2025. WINERY NOTES: An intense, mineral wine fully ripe but lean, taught and intense with savoury, creamy elements. Fragrant notes of orange blossom, nectarine stone,...

Chardonnay by Farr, 2024 As always, the Chardonnay by Farr is as good an example of this grape as you will find. It pleases those that read and drink widely and pleases those who don’t care for all the flummery, yet still want great wine. Whichever side you are on, it doesn’t change how the wine tastes.   The 2024 Chardonnay by Farr has such a lovely softness and is balanced by a tightrope of acidity. The wine is generous without being too forward, and the complexity of this wine is peerless in my opinion. It has aromatic and ripe fruit expression, but at its heart it is saline and savoury with terrific length. I always try...

The GC Chardonnay (GC – Gary Charles) is attributed to all the knowledge we have been able to extract from Gary to create a close planted / high density planting of chardonnay on an exposed côte. These hillsides facing North, North East and East will be the backbone of the Farr dynasty for decades to come. They consist of the most suitable clones, rootstocks, trellising and management you will find for our landscape. This is our tribute to what ‘Gazza’ has achieved and provoked over 40 years not only in our region but for chardonnay and pinot noir of Australia. The North côte is a red to brown loam with buckshot...

A deliciously mineral and slippery drink. An array of citrus and complexity lined with a fantastic backbone of acidity. Perhaps a bottle to be consumed by yourself.   The Irrewarra brand is a relatively young brand but with a now mature vineyard site planted in 2001 by the Calvert family of famed Irrewarra Sourdough Bakery. Inspired by time spent in Burgundy during the 1992 vintage Bronwyn and John decided to plant a dry farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir site. The Farr Family decided to make the site their own with the help of the Calvert's from 2012, farming the land with the level of detail that is expected of the Farr Rising and...

Raciness and flavour, combined with aplomb. Citrus, pear, slate and flint characters launch from the outset, candied fruit and cedar notes emerging as it travels through the mouth. There's nothing lacking about this wine, and yet it seems zippy and refreshing; it will build flesh as it matures, and be better again for it. 94 points. Campbell Mattinson 2 August 2023.   #FOGG

"It’s fresh, textural and inviting, not complex but a good drink. Yellow peaches, fresh pineapple and some lemon, too. It's spicy and has just enough creamy lees to add depth with a light layering of oak bolstering the palate and flavour profile. Excellent go-to chardonnay." 91 points. Jane Faulkner Published 19 May 2025   #DEEP

COLOUR Deep straw. AROMA This wine exhibits lush nectarine, grapefruit and white peach characters. A hint of warm vanilla spice from oak ageing frames the nose. PALATE The palate is clean and lively with tremendous depth of ripe stone-fruit flavour nuanced by toasty almond-meal notes. Bright citrus acidity and orange peel provide length and vibrancy to the finish. CELLARING This wine may be enjoyed on release but will find further complexity three to four years from vintage.    #DCHARD #DEEP

DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2025, 97 POINTS. RAY JORDAN WINE GUIDE 2024, 98 POINTS. "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 into a palate that reveals more of a struck match and cracked seashell minerality complementing the outstanding fruit concentration. Super wine." JAMES SUCKLING 2024, 97 POINTS. ...

Perth Royal Wine Show 2024: Trophy, Best Chardonnay. Trophy, Best Western Australian White Wine.. Trophy, Best Western Australian Wine..   "Okay, this stacks up as the best chardonnay yet from Driftwood. Displays the subtle understatement of the style and the site, but then you start to explore the complex aromas of cut lime, lemon, quince and richer crème brulee. The palate then kicks in with its embedded richness coming from regular lees stirring. A most impressive and exciting chardonnay development for Driftwood.” Ray Jordan 97/100 Winery Note: "Handpicked estate grapes, whole cluster pressed and wild...

Heady aromas of struck flint, lemon blossom and just-cooked jasmine rice, whereas the palate is tight and nervy. Definitely texture in the midst, though, thanks to creamy lees and the spiced, cedary oak, all of which help bolster the palate. 92 points. Jane Faulkner Published 07 August 2024

TROPHY, ROYAL HOBART WINE SHOW 2022 The Cliff Heard Perpetual Trophy for the Best Chardonnay. TROPHY, WA GOOD FOOD GUIDE WINE AWARDS 2024 A distinctive Margaret River Chardonnay, offering rich complexity and vibrant freshness. Bold flavours of pear and juicy peach are balanced by pristine acidity. There are nuances of toasted grain and nougat, with subtle flinty minerality. The palate is incredibly long and expressive with a carefully managed balance of fruit weight, savoury complexity and al dente texture. Fruit quality, experience and site speak volumes here. The Evans & Tate legacy is strong. Trophy Royal Hobart Wine Show...

Mike Bennie, Wine Front, 93 points. Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard has a discreet microclimate, that is cooler than neighbouring sites. A diversity of aspect and clone provides multifaceted winemaking opportunities. Although located in a warmer part of the valley, the site produces Chardonnay with high natural acids (and low pH) expressing itself through its characteristically long palate, fine tight structure and a zesty lemon/grapefruit finish. Halliday Wine Companion 92 points. Quite a different take this vintage, as it should be, with its lavender, white blossom and poached quince characters coming through. Lime oil...

James Halliday Wine Companion 95 points. This is smokin'. It has moreish sulphides at play, but it's the bringing together and syncing of all its elements that makes this spot-on. White nectarines, citrus, creamed honey and very spicy, all offset by mouth-watering acidity. It's layered, concentrated and flatteringly fine. 95 points. Jane Faulkner Published 13 August 2021

HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2024 Tamar Valley/Coal River Valley/Tasman Peninsula-sourced Chardonnay; matured in large format French oak for 10 months. An immediate wash of mealy lemon, grapefruit, white peach and nectarine fruit notes along with hints of fine spice, white flowers, flint, crushed river stone, nougat, oyster shell and sexy French oak. There is a swirl of struck-match complexity in the mix, and the wine presents an expansive palate with plenty of clarity, tension and complexity. A long, dreamy finish, too. 95 points. ERIN LARKIN, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE 2023 Tasted beside the 2020, this 2021 Estate Chardonnay is finer and...

Halliday Wine Companion 96 points. Pale straw with detailed aromas of white peach, nectarine and grapefruit. Hints of fine spice, grilled cashews, struck flint, clotted cream, oatmeal, white flowers, vanillin oak and stone. There's a wonderful clarity to this wine. You can, should you so desire, sit there and delineate all the individual components: lemon curd and a myriad of other tones. Or you can be happy that it is just so delicious, with scintillating minerally precision and drive, finishing dry, long, grapefruity and creamy. A great release and one of concentration and focus. 96 points. Dave Brookes Published 05 March 2024  ...

JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION, DAVE BROOKES 2024, 96 POINTS. "Coal River Valley chardonnay, whole-bunch pressed into seasoned French oak (300L) for wild ferment before maturing for nine months in oak prior to blending and bottling. Pale straw, with vibrant aromas of grapefruit, white peach and nectarine cut with hints of struck-match complexity, spiced oatmeal, almond paste and riverstone. There's a lot going on here. It's like an orchestra; you can hear it as a whole but are able to delineate and pick out individual instruments, politely golf (orchestra?) clapping as you go, marvelling at the tautly stretched fruit canvas,...

HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2024 Pale straw in the glass with aromas of white peach, nectarine and grapefruit with a nice match/sulphide nuance and hints of soft spice, oatmeal, white flowers, nougat, lemon curd and clotted cream. There is impressive detail, clarity and composition here with a long, wonderfully expressive pure flow across the palate on rails of mineral and stone. A picture of tension and release. Beautiful drinking. 97 points.   #FOGG  

The pinnaclre of Oakride chardonnay. Only 1 barrel made. Oakridge The Apex Twin Chardonnay is a special single barrel release that expresses nature and nurture at its zenith. It exquisitely reflects the unique character of a distinguished Yarra Valley vineyard, the craft of winemaking and the art of selection. For two decades, Chief Winemaker David Bicknell has searched for perfection. The Apex Twin defines a philosophy that purity, resonance and energy form the essence of the world's greatest chardonnays.    "Pale yellow colour. Lovely intense nectarine, peach, lemon curd aromas with underlying vanilla, hint of marzipan,...

All P58 clone from '80 and '82 plantings. By Oakridge's reputation for making taut and tightly structured wines, this is the most open and immediately charming of this year's vineyard series wines. Aromas of yellow peach and gunflint lead onto the palate, which is gently textured, mouth-filling and, as always, very nicely balanced. A pleasure to drink now and over the short to medium term. 95 points. Philip Rich Published 23 March 2025.

Extremely limited production. Chardonnay of the Year and Wine of the Year. From the Funder and Diamond vineyard, planted in Wandin East with the P58 clone in 1990. Hand picked and whole-bunch pressed to French puncheons (20% new) for fermentation and 10 months' maturation before another six months in tank. Very bright. Aromas of stone fruits and lemon verbena together with some struck match, oyster shells and a little gently toasted hazelnut. There's a wonderful purity of fruit, too, on the superbly balanced, silken textured and tensile palate. At the risk of repeating myself, this is ‘grand cru’ quality Australian...

From the highest section at Henk, around 260m. Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed to 500L French puncheons (20% new), wild-yeast fermented, matured for 10 months on lees. The first Henk to make an 864 since 2018 and worth the wait. A glorious wine opening with orchard fruits, freshly cut white pears together with a little sea spray and lightly grilled cashews. On the palate, this is restrained, tightly coiled and mouth-filling – you can still taste this very precise wine long after you've taken a sip. 98 points. Philip Rich Published 17 July 2024

SELECTION Selection for this Chardonnay focused on premium fruit from the cool slopes of the Upper Yarra Valley , Gladysdale (Willowlake) and Wandin East (Barkala), with a touch of estate fruit from Coldstream. VINTAGE 2023 A vintage defined by cool, wet conditions, low crops and harvesting late into autumn. The resulting wines have great depth of flavour and vibrant, balanced acidities. WINEMAKING A traditional winemaking approach was used to produce this wine – handpicking and whole bunch pressing directly to 500 litre French oak puncheons for natural fermentation followed by a 9-month maturation on lees. TASTING NOTE Pale straw and...

  Only 255 dozen produced. Not rated yet. {The 2022 vintage was awarded 95 points by Huon Hooke at the Real Review and 95 points by Campbell Mattison at The wine Front.) Our 2023 Chardonnay embodies purity and finesse. Subtle nuances of struck match and flinty minerality intertwine with a whisper of oak spice on the nose, along with delicious lemon curd and hints of nashi pear. At its heart lies a focused core of ripe stone fruit, enveloped by a pristine acid structure that bestows both richness and tension across the palate. A combination of Chardonnay clones I10V1 and P58 were gently pressed into large format seasoned French oak...

"A focused and citrusy Coal River Valley chardonnay, pale straw in the glass, that is packed with ripe lemon, grapefruit, peach and nectarine fruits with hints of soft spice, vanillin oak, crème fraîche, white flowers and stone. Plenty of tension and steely mineral focus on the palate; the wine at first coils before releasing with lemon, grapefruit and poached pear fruits sliding gracefully to the finish line." 94 points. Dave Brookes Published 07 August 2024.   #FOGG

“It’s a soft chardonnay with creamy, leesy characters as the palate’s main calling card before its zestier, zippier side takes over through the finish. Mellifluous for the most past, rushed with energy thereafter. Elegant..... 94 Points” Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion, August 2020 (2019 Vintage. WINERY NOTE: The Mendosa clone creates rich, elegant Chardonnay and we selected this for our first Equilibrio. The wine is opulent, generous and composed with good oak integration all wound together with a citrus and nectarine, creamy freshness. The concept behind our Equilibrio range is to promote the very best...

“From a parcel in the Gruyere district, this has a very impressively focused and intense nose with punchy lemon and peach aromas, as well as grapefruit pith, gun flint and fresh hazelnut. The palate has a fleshy, supple and soft edge with creamy and gently buttery layers around lemons, limes and peaches. 93 Points.” JamesSuckling.com, October 2020 (2019 Vintage) “A flintiness, a creaminess, a succulence. Gets the complexity and mouthfeel right and then moves on to delivering pure, fruit-driven drinking. Lemon fresh, pears, blossomy characters, custard. Most enjoyable. 93 Points.” Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine...