Sourced from dry-grown, hand tended vines in the north east of Victoria, this Beechworth Chardonnay from Savaterre will surely convince even the most hardened Chardonnay critic that modern Australian Chardonnay is of supreme world-class standard. Keppell Smith handcrafts a Chardonnay of utmost power and concentration that produces a length of flavour that borders on the immortal.

Powerful and opulent with a flinty backbone to balance the concentrated stone fruit and barrel fermentation complexities.

Chardonnay is at home in the Margaret River in Australia's west and this great value version from Cow Bombie shows lovely rich varietal flavours of peach and melon and textured mouth feel are enhanced by zesty citrus notes which linger on the finish.

This Chardonnay exhibits attractive varietal aromas of pear, pineapple and quince. The palate shows ripe flavours of tropical fruit with a touch of nutty oak. A generous easy-drinking style.

This wine has an immediately inviting aroma of apricot and peach with an underlying melon character. The palate is ripe and fruity, with peach and apricot again being the dominant features.

Xanadu Fusion Chardonnay gives an elegant bouquet full of pears, grapefruit and gala apples with underlying hints of nougat and cashew. The palate is medium bodied displaying white fleshed stone fruits and zesty citrus flavours. The wine offers an almost crystalline minerality, complimented by a lovely creamy/marshmallow texture derived from lees stirring whilst in barrel. Taut and fresh, the bright fruit and crisp acidity combine to focus the wine perfectly to a lingering fruit finish.

Giesen's Estate Chardonnay is wine that's very approachable in youth and suitable for any occasion. The fruit is sourced from a premium Hawkes Bay vineyard, producing a Chardonnay with good fruit intensity and a touch of complexity through lees contact and restrained use of oak. Sweet stone fruit and citrus aromas with excellent textural viscosity, subtle oak characters and focussed acidity on the palate. A balanced and lengthy finish rounds off an ideal NZ Chardonnay for seafood dishes.

Gary Farr is still one of Victoria's true Chardonnay maestro's and his Chardonnay By Farr is another example. Taken from the original By Farr vineyard, this is a clearly a wine of true clarity and finesse. Flavours of melon and hints of spice with wonderful oak integration mean this wine is simply delicious upon release, but handle some careful medium-term cellaring.

Toolangi is a state forest just outside Healesville that was devastated during Black Saturday. The excellent vineyards remain, and continue to produce wines of personality and place. The Chardonnay combines varietal characters of quince and crab apple with some delicious nutty oak nuances. Its great value.

Krondorf is a Barossa wine name that is steeped in history and tradition. Beginning with the establishment of the Glenview winery back in 1850s, the Krondorf name was re-born by Grant Burge back in 1978 and today is one of the most successful wineries on the wine show circuit winning countless trophies and gold medals in the past 10 years. This Chardonnay is a bright straw colour with hints of golden yellow, while on the nose aromas of melon and citrus typical of the varietal are present. The long and persistent palate is wonderfully textured and a great match for some smoked trout.