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The 2017 Chardonnay fruit was handpicked in pristine condition. Lifted bouquet of nectarines and stone fruits with an underlay of toasty spice. Barrel ferment characters add complexity while flavours of citrus and cashew swirl around the palate to give a long flavoursome finish.

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.

Josef Chromy Chardonnay is a classic cool climate style, showing notes of melon and granny smith apple, some mid palate creamy richness and taut linear acidity. Fruit is sourced from Josef Chromys estate vineyards in Relbia in Northern Tasmania. The Chardonnay is gently pressed to stainless steel for a cool ferment with full solids retained for fermentation to give richness and texture.

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.

Woodlands Chardonnay has an attractive nose of grapefruit enhanced by some oak characters. A wine of some finesse with the elements of fruit, oak and acid coming together to produce a wine of exceptional balance and length.

Freycinet Chardonnay is a stunning cool-climate example of the varietal. Nutty, toasty barrel ferment aromas are combined with minerally citrus characters and the palate is wonderfully multi layered in flavour underpinned by laser sharp acidity.

Flametree are nestled in the picturesque Margaret River wine region where they continue to be surrounded by a buzz and excitement centred on the quality wine they are producing. Attention to detail is paramount in the winery where careful site, clonal and oak selections are made to produce exceptional Chardonnay's like this one. Characters of dried pears, grapefruit, melon and fig are balanced with searing acidity and a length of flavour that speaks to its promising future.

One of the best value Margaret River Chardonnays out there. Michael Kerrigan is doing an amazing job producing Chardonnays of elegance. Hay Shed Hill has delicate grapefruit and stone fruit flavours on the palate. And these flavours are matched with fine, minerally acidity with suble oak towards the finish.

The Third Generation series is a modern style Chardonnay, Robert Stein Winery has crafted with the exceptional fruits from Mudgee to create this great expression of the vineyard and regional characteristics in a bottle. With the aromas of grapefruit, peach and citrus, fermentation was 80% in stainless steel tank with high lees contact. The remainder time in older oak undergoing partial Malolactic Fermentation with wild yeast, which adds diversity and complexity to the finish.