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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.

Barrel fermentation with lees stirring allows the peach and apricot fruit characters of the Chardonnay grape to shine. The secondary malo-lactic fermentation gives a full buttery smoothness, balance and length to the finish of this magnificent cool climate wine.

Chandon Vintage Brut is a fine elegant sparkling produced from grapes sourced from multiple cool-climate regions, with a slant towards quality Yarra Valley fruit. A reductive, flinty aroma overlays quince, nashi pear, pine nut, citrus blossom and lemon zest. Toasty brioche and chalky mineral aromas present in the background. An excellent palate, with primary fruits of tangy lemon and kaffir lime, backed up by secondary flavours of fresh pastry. Tightly wound acidity with remarkable freshness.

The Chardonnay grapes used to create Vintage Blanc de Blancs were picked, pressed and then fermented to retain intense fruit flavours. The resulting wine shows a bright straw colour with light green highlights and a beautiful bead. The fragrant bouquet is perfumed with lovely aromas of cream and peaches, with light suggestions of citrus and honeysuckle. The elegant palate is filled with peachy flavours and zesty lemon acidity, offering a silky mouthfeel and a clean finish. This lighter bodied Blanc de Blancs tastes excellent with sashimi, sushi, and foie gras terrine.

The Ten Minutes by Tractor Chardonnay's have become very well known by Chardonnay lovers across the country and from beyond our shores. This 10X Chardonnay is a blend of non-estate Mornington Peninsula vineyards and is a wonderful example of the current trend in Australian Chardonnay having both structure and body. Great value.

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.

Yabby Lake's second label is most impressive; Chardonnay in the modern style - less oak and better acid structure. Textured and classy with matchbox flint, grapefruit and an extremely classy precision.