The grapes used to craft Warramate Chardonnay were whole bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak barrels and stainless steel. This led to the creation of a pale straw coloured wine with light green hues highlighting its edges. The attractive bouquet is dominated by intense aromas of orange blossom, lemon citrus peel and sea spray minerality. This enticing Chardonnay flaunts a crisp palate containing tangy grapefruit, white peach and citrus flavours, coupled with light saline notes. A firm acid line balances these vibrant characters to culminate in a focused and lengthy finish. Crafted to be relished upon release, this wonderful white wine can also be cellared for 5 years. It tastes great with vegetable terrines, steamed fish and risotto.

Light to medium-bodied, tight-knit with white peach, grapefruit, herb and mealy characters,well-balanced acid and a long fresh finish.

In recent years Tarrawarra Estate Reserve Chardonnay has definately turned down the volume and has become a refined and elegant Yarra Valley style chardonnay with lovely citrus zest and white peach flavours. Complimented by a smooth and rich mouthfeel, every bit a quality Chardonnay.

This Yarra Valley Chardonnay was made from fruit sourced entirely from Medhurst Estate Vineyard. All fruit handpicked whole bunch pressed and fermented in French oak (10% new) where Indigenous fermentation in barrel lasting around one month. We decided to put one third of the blend through MLF to soften the natural acids in this cool and vibrant year. This adds depth and complexity to the pure stone fruit palate. The wine spent 5 months in oak before blending with full solids into tank. The wine was bottled with minimal filtration on August 30th, 2018. Bright pale straw with green hues, extremely vibrant and brilliant in the glass. The nose shows hints of grapefruit and stone fruit, both rich and flavoursome yet subtle. No real oak influence, but plenty of mealy, flinty notes. The palate is poised and powerful, showing off a benchmark Yarra Valley vintage. Again oak in the background it simply helps usher the beautiful pure fruit to the back of an effortless long and fine palate. This wine will look terrific over the medium term.

Innocent Bystander produces a stylish Chardonnay that shows stonefruit melon and vanillin oak on the nose. The palate has lovely creamy mouthfeel and flavours of butterscotch and citrus with minerally acidity on the finish.

From the ever impressive Yering Station, this Chardonnay offers toasty barrel ferment characters, good supporting oak and ripe peach aromas leading to a textured and well rounded palate. One of the better value examples out there.

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%

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.

Levantine Hill is located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and is one of Australia’s most premium wine producers. A family-owned estate comprising two vineyards and a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door and highly awarded restaurant, its wines are handcrafted without compromise by renowned Australian winemaker Paul Bridgeman. With a stated ethos of producing cool climate, delicate and refined wines of uncompromising quality, Levantine Hill has established a world-class reputation, winning many major international awards and the acclaim of leading wine experts.