Le Stagiaire Chardonnay is drawn mostly from Garagistes Merricks vineyard, with the balance coming from Balnarring and Tuerong. Barney Flanders doesn't make these wines specifically for this labelall his ferments start out as potential single-vineyard wines, so the single-site wines are barrel selections, with the remaining wines bottled under Le Stagiaire. This provides some idea of how this label is able over-deliver, year in year out.

Crisp and Dry. An ideal accompaniement to the festive season!

Made in only one vintage from the extraordinary Turramurra Vineyard (which usually sells it's highly sought after fruit to the icon winemakers of Mornington Peninsula) the 2018 Chardonnay is the brainchild of the Hamilton family, legends of international motorsport and the first importers of Porsche cars to Australia. The Turramurra vineyard is located in exceptional soils and topography allowing the wine to be harvested at ripeness but retains great acidity giving the wine balance, elegance and complexity and now with bottle age, depth and character. This has been cellared for maturation, is ready to drink but will cellar well for another few years and has a fascinating back story.

The aspiration of Oakridge LVS -- or Local Vineyard Series -- wines is to be outstanding expressions of single vineyards within the Yarra Valley. Local Vineyard Series wines enable wine lovers to compare and contrast the power of terroir and geography in winemaking. In essence, different grape varieties thrive in different soils, and Yarra Valley terroirs and altitudes vary widely. Oakridges expertise and understanding of the region allows viticulturists and winemakers to match a particular variety with a particular site -- with marvellous results. Almost all LVS wines are cellarworthy. The Willowlake Vineyard is just outside Gladysdale in Victorias Upper Yarra Valley. Planted in 1979 at an elevation 300 metres, the cool-grown Chardonnay here ranks with the regions very best. Add the skills of leading Chardonnay exponent David Bicknell and these hand-picked grapes become wines that express their variety and origin with consummate precision and flair.

This is a newer world style of Chardonnay showing the elegance of fresh cool climate. Once harvested, the fruit was whole bunch pressed with the un-clarified juice that was fermented with inoculated yeast in seasoned French Oak Barriques. The wine by Paringa Estate was barrel stirred fortnightly during the eleven months of maturation and was sulphured early to retain fruit freshness & prevent malolactic fermentation. The bouquet of this wine is a mix nectarine, citrus/orange and complex sulphide solids aromas. The palate has similar fresh citrus & nectarine fruit flavours along with fine acidity. Chardonnay fruit combined with the complexity of barrel fermentation & maturation.

Sandro Mosele continues to take Kooyong's estate wines to heights unseen for the price. Focus, linear acidity and supreme elegance are all hallmarks of Sandro's work and all can be seen here. Along with great precision, comes lovely fruit characters also that work with a whole range of Asian-fusion cuisine.

It may be the second label of Scotchman's Hill but don't be deceived the quality of this wine is first rate! Delicate, floral and perfumed aromas are backed up by ripe melon and stone fruit flavours.

Floral with pear, spice and citrus flavours light to medium weight soft acid to close.

Easily affordable quality, the Paringa Chardonnay is made from high quality fruit from across the Morning Peninsula. An awesome balance of toasty oak and rich stone fruit flavours with real length and depth. One of the best mid $20 Chardonnays available and proof of Lindsay McCall's true talent.

The Amen Break Quarry Ridge Victoria Chardonnay shows lifted aromatics of fig and pear, complexing reductive elements and a hint of white florals. The palate is very concentrated, with fig, pear, wet stones, and a hint of mealy phenolic at the finish. Acidity is bright and frames the palate beautifully. This is a totally modern, thoroughly authentic expression of cool grown, high altitude chardonnay.