The 2015 Cherry Tree Hill Chardonnay is a great example of a cool climate wine. The depth of amazing fruit is complimented perfectly by subtle oak tannins integrated from ten months ageing in large format French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Airlie Bank dares to treat drinkers with respect by delivering wines that are delicious and true - as well as remarkably good value. Tim Shand and the team enjoy freedom to push boundaries. Their small-batch ethos has led to a great deal of creativity and ever-decreasing doses of sulphur. Bright acitity on the nose with doughy, bready complexities. This wine is fresh and vibrant with a focussed palate structure of apple blossom and citrus characters with complex brioche notes.

Picked from a block of gris on the Napoleone Vineyard in the Yarra Valley which is nurtured to hang a touch longer, with better tannin maturity than the fruit picked for the Punt Road Pinot Gris. Whole berry and whole bunch ferments are conducted in isolation in one-tonne open pots. They were pressed separately to oak this year, but in the end both went in their entirety into the blend. The bunch ferments developed a very significant funk this year, and it was good to see this in the finished wine. The berry ferments supply musk flavour and fruit sweetness. Its all about the bunch though: Campari, aniseed and kombucha. Unfined and minimally filtered. The perfect companion in Spring or Summer.

This white blend's aroma includes some beeswax complexity and preserved lemon peel lift. Red apple skin and creamy white peach. The palate has crunchy red apple freshness and delicious passionfruit tropical fruits. The small amount of skin contact gives a textural wine and encouraged structure through tannins. The length is dominated by the Semillon and driven by a bright acid tang that would stand up to a variety of food pairings.

This is a classic Yarra Valley Chardonnay from the Wedgetail estate, elegant, generously and voluptuous in style. It offers aromas of citrus, cashews, pear and a hit of vanilla. The mouth fill is full and satisfying with a crisp finish. Drinking beautifully now, and if well cellared will age gracefully for the next 5 to 8 years.

A lovely off white, copper hue to the wine. Not quite rose, but a really appealing blush. The nose has mandarin peel, fennel and a touch of funk and wet earth. Palate is racy, with cumquat and dried flower notes. Finishes with a vanilla note, and a savoury, phenolic bite. Theres skinsy and bunchy notes throughout, but they are in harmony with the pristine fruit and energy of a white wine from this cool, humid year.

Little bit of old school Vs new school Chardonnay here. Chardonnay that tastes like Chardonnay. Nice and textured with generosity while still being fresh. A ripping acid line that brings it all together. This is a Tuesday night in a glass kind of Chardonnay, did someone say Nannas roast chicken?

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!

The concept of blending complementary and compatible grape varieties to create a wine of amplified expression, structure, integration, and balance, harnessing each component’s individual strengths to fashion a wine greater than the sum of its manifold components, has long held a fascination for us as wine producers. Taking its lead from the estimable white blends of Bordeaux, built around a base of Semillon, we seek to find a vintage-specific synergy from a harmonious blend, resulting in a wine expression beyond the limited range afforded to the singular grape varieties when bottled in isolation.