Soumah Hexham Chardonnay
Of all the premium white wines we sampled last year; it was the Soumah Hexham Chardonnay that rose to the top. This top class Yarra Valley Chardonnay features the perfect amount of oak and a moreish creaminess. Produced from small single vineyard plantings in the Warramate foothills of the Yarra Valley, Soumah Hexham Chardonnay is brilliant now but patience will be rewarded if cellared up to 5 years if you can keep your hands off it that long. One of the real movers and shakers of the industry in recent times, Soumah is without a doubt one to keep a very close eye on. This is a super complex and extremely alluring example. Produced from small single vineyard plantings in the Warramate foothills of the Yarra Valley, outstanding fruit quality works hand in hand with barrel derived complexities. This complexity around a mid to full bodied core lends its self just perfectly to seafood with the traditional butter sauce accompaniment.
Rob Dolan White Label Chardonnay
A benchmark chardonnay from master wine-maker Rob Dolan out of the Yarra Valley. Packed full of grapefruit, white peach, cashew & nutmeg aromas brimming from the glass followed by a mineral consistency on the palate with extended length on the finish. Will easily cellar for another 5 years if you can wait that long.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Willowlake Chardonnay
David Bicknell is a Chardonnay perfectionist with a passion for terroir and contrasts in the characters of different vineyard sites. In the glass: Bright fine straw with a green hue. On the nose: Fabulous purity and lift with ripe, complex stonefruit combining with lees and struck match magic. On the palate: A complex funky monster! It shows tremendous depth and umami being satiny soft throughout with amazing refined power and balance and extraordinary length and persistence. Classy!
Denton Shed Chardonnay
Sourced from the cooler North Eastern slope of the Denton View Hill. Whole bunch pressed, wild ferment, wild malo. Matured in French oak and stainless steel tank for 5 months and early bottling in Spring without fining or filtration.
Red Hill Estate Merricks Grove Chardonnay
The aromas of pineapple, white peach, nectarines and melon start the senses. On the palate you will also taste rockmelon, white peach and tropical fruits. This wine has a long length of flavour and a creamy mouth feel, finishing with elegant acidity.
Maressa Chardonnay
Animale Chardonnay
Denton Chardonnay
Payten & Jones Hollow Bones Chardonnay
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!
Levant by Levantine Hill Chardonnay
Brilliant pale straw colour with tints of green to the outskirts and a watery hue. Aromas of nectarine, white peach and dried honey have a light toast overlay. Delicate citrus and cashew notes are also evident. Fleshy nectarine and white peach flavours line the elegant mid weighted palate with notions of dried honey and faint cashew lying underneath. Finishes with good freshness and a refined aftertaste. Drink over the next 3-4 years. Alc. 12.5%