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.

Spicy, faintly floral aromas of stone fruit, grapefruit, lime juice and coriander are backed by matchstick-like oak and a hint of mineral. It's round and creamy, smooth and voluptuous, with a gentle, mouthfilling core of flavour and nougat-like complexity finishing with a hint of butter, gentle lemony acids and a faint smokiness. Crushed and pressed with full solids straight to oak (20% new), both primary fermentation and malolactic were natural. Elevage: 8 months on lees in oak before being racked and filtered in preparation for bottling. Hand-picked on 12th March 2018 First established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyards is located in the Yarra Valley adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This Chardonnay is grown on fine clay loam and produces grapes which represent the unique site. Low cropped and hand harvested from 23 year old vines of I1OV3 clone grapes on D Block rows 35 55. The 2018 harvest will be remembered fondly by winemakers in the Yarra Valley. It was a rare season that gave above average yields and excellent quality fruit. Dry sunny conditions with cool overnight temperatures provided good natural acidity and concentrated wines at lower alcohol levels.

Estate dry-grown vines, planted '69. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French oak (30% new), matured for 10 months. Bright & complex nose of blossom, stonefruit, candied figs & lemongrass with subtle background oak. Generosity of stonefruits flavours give fruit volume & weight to the palate. A ginger cream spice & texture lending weight with gentle vanillin oak & a fine tannin framework.

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 Chardonnay has opposing elements of minerality and creaminess make this an outstanding, complex wine. The aromas and flavours of lemon pith, chamomile, just ripe nectarine and apricot are underlain by fine grained, smoky oak.The grapes were whole bunch pressed and the free run and pressings separated for fermentation. After chilling, 50% of the unsettled juice was placed in 500 litre puncheons and 228 litre barriques for fermentation. At the end of fermentation, the wine was left on yeast lees for 8 months. The lees were stirred weekly. The remaining juice was fermented in tank to retain the fresh aromas and flavours of the variety. This wine also remained on yeast lees for an extended period of time. The restraint on this wine suggests it will continue to age and improve in bottle. While waiting for the magic to happen, enjoy the wine now with a classic freshly shucked oysters with a dot of green apple granita.

Fruit for this wine was hand-selected from our single-site Yarra Valley vineyard. Notes of white peach, guava and rockmelon with the palate showing soft hints of lime and nashi pear.

Dont miss this rare chance to secure a magnificent wine from a top producer thats in seriously short supply. Made by an acclaimed winemaker at the top of their game, this is a slice of wine history you dont want to miss. Add it to your collection while you can.

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.