Since the early 90's, Penfolds have been producing Chardonnay from the cool climate region of Tumbarumba. The Chardonnay is elegant with white florals, stone fruits and a great acidity structure. Maturation in French Oak gives the Bin 311 a subtle nutty savoury flavour through and through. A great all season wine for all sorts of occasions.

The Piccadilly Valley welcomed the Croser family back into the Tapanappa Winery with a typical cool weather vintage of exemplary quality. Stone fruit, honeydew and lemon zest, with spicy cedar oak in support. Medium bodied, tangy lemony acidity, almond and spice, firm and flinty finish. Its a wine of structure and coiled up power. Good now, but ideally needs a couple of years in the winerack.

Cambria was originally part of the Tepusquet Vineyard. Planted between 1970 and 1971, this ambitious venture helped establish Santa Barbara County as a world-class wine producing region. The Cambria portion of property was purchased in 1986 by Barbara Banke. Today, Cambria is still 100% family owned and the wines are 100% estate-grown. Ripe fruit, floral and spice aromas dominate the nose of the Katherines Vineyard Chardonnay. Grapefruit, pineapple, white peach, citrus blossom, and apple flavors are balanced by a bit of wet stone, subtly oak spice and bright acid.

Pale, straw colour with insinuations of green. Overt, ripe varietal fruit characters on the nose - pineapple, citrus and nectarine derived are from the warm vintage conditions. Mineral characters, orange blossom and almond meal along with some lees derived creaminess are all balanced within this multi-dimensional palate.

Many of us wine drinkers have a soft spot for Chablis. Its with great reason too, given our climate and affi nity with seafood. A little over two months ago, we were thrilled when this wine hit our shores for the first time following a selective buying trip. Once again, it showcased its undisputed quality and notoriety in our tasting sessions. Established in 1850, this small family owned domain is the proven choice of so many when it comes to great Chablis. The estate comprises a mere 45 hectares of vines scattered throughout the region, grown on the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Textbook in expression and style, super fi ne and elegant, this 2013 has perfectly poised, piercing acidity. This drives superb length of flavour on the featherweight light palate. Is there a better oyster wine?

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.

The Philip Shaw No.11 Chardonnay is produced from high altitude vineyards in a region firmly claiming its rightful place at the table of great Chardonnay regions, Orange of NSW. A brilliant combination of flavours of citrus and honey dew and a great sense of minerality with a firm focus on low crops and supreme site selection.

'These Hay Shed Hill chardonnays have reached a new level in recent years, and this one is another cracker. Classically Margaret River with its powerful palate and super fruit intensity, there is a nice mix of grapefruit and pear with a little roasted cashew influence. It retains a lively freshness which makes for excellent current drinking.' - 94 Points. - Ray Jordan.

An elegant, vibrant and fragrant nose with lemon, lime and pear in the foreground. Notes of peach blossom and subtle jasmine create lift and combines with cardamom pod, almond meal and roasted cashew. The palate has immense purity, with power and persistence. Lime and lemon pith define the palate, which carries through to a delicately layered middle, threaded with a fine mineral spine. Sesame seed and blanched almonds enhance complexity, finishing with a sparkling acid structure. This wine has energy in its youth, and will build texture with cellaring.

Amongst premier wine grape varieties, Chardonnay is the most divergent and most planted white wine grape in the world. Pale straw in colour, this well-crafted wine is rich and mouth filling. An exotic fusion of ripe yellow plums, white grapefruits, nuances of sweet baking spices, cream, and lightly toasted cashew nuts can be experienced in this wine. As the wine swirls in the glass, the nose is greeted with noticeable scents of citrus peel and ripe stone fruits, with an air of delicate florals. The palate is rich and filling on initial entry while the mid-palate adds fresh cream to the mix, before a brisk acidity leads to a nippy and clean finish. It is a flexible wine that pairs well with soft cheeses, scallops, or fish with herbs.