Lets roll in the hay with Chardonnay. Off the stunning Burnside vineyard. Hand harvested, whole bunch pressed to a mix of large format oak & amphora. Natural ferment plus malo then simply racked to bottled on a stunning fruit day.

Light gold, with a fresh, green rim. Stonefruit, pear and citrus notes and seductive fresh toast, dried herbs and malty aromas from barrel fermentation. Palate Remarkable fruit sweetness, intensity and persistence, matched with lovely texture and savoury elements and balanced by fresh, natural acidity. A prolonged cool and wet growing season meant the vines were lush and healthy heading into ripening. This resulted in later harvest dates, accentuated by the cool and wet ripening months; conditions not experienced in Western Australia for more than 10 years. These conditions, coupled with the absence of heat events, produced highly aromatic whites with good natural acidity. The fruit was selectively handpicked at perfect ripeness, before being loaded into an airbag press and gently squeezed. The free-run juice was continuously tasted until an optimum point was reached. The juice underwent wild fermentation in new French oak puncheons, then remained in barrel for 7-10 months, with monthly lees stirring to provide texture and mouthfeel. Each batch was carefully assessed for inclusion in the final blend. This minimal handling has produced a unique, delicate Redbrook Chardonnay style that will develop great complexity over time.

Jeff and Vicky Dewar established Willow Bridge Estate after acquiring a spectacular 180ha hillside property in the Ferguson Valley, a sub region of Geographe. Under winemaker Kim Horton, many of its wines offer exceptional value for money. James Halliday rated their beautiful winery among his ‘Best Wineries of 2014’ and ‘Dark Horse Wineries of 2013’ Their G1-10 Chardonnay is full flavoured, complex and textural, yet still lively and refreshing with refined tight grain french oak offering backbone support. Winemaking exudes minimalist technique to allow expression of site. Bright staw in colour. Lifted citrus, white peach, lemon blossom and almond with intriguing complex elements of fine French oak. A precise palate of harmonious oak teamed with intense stone fruit, citrus and flint like palate, with a long flowing texture leading to fine acidity and spiced oak nuances.

It was whole bunch pressed to new and one-year-old French oak, and the balance with the fruit is absolutely spot on. Aromas of melon, lemon rind, and light smoky cashew. The palate has a lively energy with an intense minerally fruit character supported with fine chalky acidity and some superfine oak.

Vasse Felix is on the cutting edge of modern style Chardonnay with their focus on lean, zippy and aromatic characters. A proven medal and trophy winning wine, the Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay has delicious stone fruit and purity of acid and minerality. Has wonderful line and length that will accompany light seafood dishes wonderfully.

Forester Estate Chardonnay is a refreshing fruit-driven wine. Pale lemon green in colour with intense roasted nuts, honey, ripe peach and a hint of smoky oak with lingering MLF on the nose. It is medium body with similar profile from the nose. Classic acidity structures with a toasty yet deliciously creamy finish.

This is the wine that the winemakers at Pierro drink on their day off. They have seen the hand-picked grapes, gently cold pressed and put into mature oak for 10 months to give the wine complexity yet elegant simplicity.