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This Chardonnay has opposing elements of minerality and creaminess make this an outstanding, complex wine. The aromas and flavours of lemon pith, chamomile, just ripe nectarine and apricot are underlain by fine grained, smoky oak.The grapes were whole bunch pressed and the free run and pressings separated for fermentation. After chilling, 50% of the unsettled juice was placed in 500 litre puncheons and 228 litre barriques for fermentation. At the end of fermentation, the wine was left on yeast lees for 8 months. The lees were stirred weekly. The remaining juice was fermented in tank to retain the fresh aromas and flavours of the variety. This wine also remained on yeast lees for an extended period of time. The restraint on this wine suggests it will continue to age and improve in bottle. While waiting for the magic to happen, enjoy the wine now with a classic freshly shucked oysters with a dot of green apple granita.

Good flesh here though; medium-bodied, good weight and sweep of acidity with a crispness to the finish 95, 96 clone Chardonnay from two vineyards, one in Red Hill and one in Tuerong. Barrel ferment, lees stirred. 20% MLF. 15% new French oak. 10 months in the barrel. Sam, Kaspar and Will pick the fruit on the up-curve (i.e. crux of flavour and freshness) bearing in mind the warmer side of the Mornington Peninsula is part of the equation here.

Le Stagiaire Chardonnay is drawn mostly from Garagistes Merricks vineyard, with the balance coming from Balnarring and Tuerong. Barney Flanders doesn't make these wines specifically for this labelall his ferments start out as potential single-vineyard wines, so the single-site wines are barrel selections, with the remaining wines bottled under Le Stagiaire. This provides some idea of how this label is able over-deliver, year in year out.

Lovely light bead, gently bottle carbonated by the French method which means hand riddling and disgorging to remove the yeast from the bottle. Not too acidic and lovely fruit on the palate.

Quealy were the first Aussie winemakers to produce a Friulano, a grape variety that hails from Friuli in north eastern Italy. A wine of interest with masses of flavour.Vibrant lemon green. Expressive and powerful nose of ripe melon, cashew and marzipan. Rich and ripe with lashings of stonefruit and citrus, complex nutty complexity, slatey minerality, supple textural notes and a long, savoury finish.

Troy Payten and Ben Jones are making wines with soul & personality out of the Yarra Valley. They have a tremendous passion for wine, something that can be found in every glass of their wines. Fruit comes from Tarrawarra and is handled with all the classic chardonnay techniques. Oak maturation, malolactic fermentation and long lees contact. The result is a flinty style with notes of toast and whipped cream. Yum!

The aspiration of Oakridge LVS -- or Local Vineyard Series -- wines is to be outstanding expressions of single vineyards within the Yarra Valley. Local Vineyard Series wines enable wine lovers to compare and contrast the power of terroir and geography in winemaking. In essence, different grape varieties thrive in different soils, and Yarra Valley terroirs and altitudes vary widely. Oakridges expertise and understanding of the region allows viticulturists and winemakers to match a particular variety with a particular site -- with marvellous results. Almost all LVS wines are cellarworthy. The Willowlake Vineyard is just outside Gladysdale in Victorias Upper Yarra Valley. Planted in 1979 at an elevation 300 metres, the cool-grown Chardonnay here ranks with the regions very best. Add the skills of leading Chardonnay exponent David Bicknell and these hand-picked grapes become wines that express their variety and origin with consummate precision and flair.

Floral with pear, spice and citrus flavours light to medium weight soft acid to close.