Pale colour, aromatic nashi pear, lemon and white scented flowers with a fragrant light toast. A precise palate of harmonious oak teamed with grapefruit pith and white fleshed fruit. Long , textural and clean. The season for the Geographe wine region was cool and dry. The five months until the end of January had yielded little rain, about 70mm less than the same period last year The cooler weather also disrupted flowering and fruit set resulting in much smaller bunch sizes and high incidence of hen and chicken, especially in Chardonnay. The January 2019 average temperature of 21.3 was two degrees Celsius lower than the 23.3 of 2016. Ideal weather for stunning white wines.A combination of hand picked, whole bunch pressed and machine harvested fruit, allowed to proceed directly to ferment with wild and cultured yeast in French oak barriques. After fermentation, the wine is assessed for fruit purity and lees complexity, and winemaking is then tailor made on a barrel by barrel basis, with each having its own identity. Two hours south of Perth in the Ferguson Valley sub-region of Geographe is where youll find Willow Bridge Estate. Jeff and Vicki Dewar bought the vineyard in 1996 and enlisted the expertise of Kim Horton and Dougal Herd to create premium wines that are exceptional value for money. In 1997 they planted 100 acres of wine grapes and held their breath. Then another 50 acres were planted in 1998, making Willow Bridge the biggest planting in what was then a largely unknown region. The vineyard is sited high on the western watershed of the Darling Ranges, with the vines enjoying spectacular views over the coastal plain, and across the waters of Geographe Bay to Cape Naturaliste. The vineyard is 25km from the coast as the crow flies, and receives the cooling afternoon sea breeze during summer. At an elevation between 230 and 280 meters, the estate is generally two degrees or more cooler than the coastal plain, with ripening times similar to the cool southern parts of the neighbouring Margaret River wine region.

Bright pale straw. Distinctly aromatic floral bouquet that immediately attracts your attention. Underlying this is prominent spices and honeysuckle fragrance that is complimented by subtle oak nuances. There is a really lovely balance of early season stone fruits and soft acid which leaves a gentle and lingering long dry finish. The use of some oak maturation creates an overall mouthfeel of roundness and mild dryness which is so complimentary with food.

The palate exudes fleshy primary fruits, layered with nutmeal, lemon butter and brioche. A chalky, mineral texture and fresh citrus acidity continues the bounce.

Capel Vale is family-owned and one of the pioneers of the West Australian wine industry, first planting vines in 1974. And the duck? A symbol of the native mountain ducks that inhabit the nearby Capel River. In the glass: Pale with green freshness.On the nose: Rich and nutty aromas with stonefruit, citrus and struck match. On the palate: Full and generous with complex development under juicy peach and tangy grapefruit. Lovely line and length due to precise acidity, and well-judged oak.

Picardy Chardonnay from Western Australia's emerging region of Pemberton is a beautifully crafted wine; melon, stone fruit and grapefruit in a Burgundian style with the influence of quality oak.

This has power and concentration yet retains delicacy and freshness. Mineral, grapefruit, almond meal and quality oak are seamlessly interwoven.

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.

In the glass: Pale lemon.On the nose: Peach, citrus, almond and vanillin oak. On the palate: Smooth and creamy with a decadent mix of citrus and stonefruit, vanillin oak support, velvety mouth-feel and fresh acidity.

The team at Hay Shed Hill has selected the best vineyard blocks on their Margaret River estate to create the Block Series. The fruit for this wine comes from some of the oldest Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc vines in the region. Full straw with yellow green hue, it presents a plush honeydew melon and warm honey mix with guava and lime juice generosity. The developing palate has a mouth-filling and harmonious mix of lime and melon with deeper traces of tropical fruits and touches of biscuit and honey chiming in on the finish. A complex barrel fermented style and ready to drink.

DOMAINE NATURALISTE Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc, Margaret River