GAFFY AND NEAL Merricks North Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula

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

A medium bodied Chardonnay that is also vibrant and rich in flavour. Sweeter tropical flavours of pineapple, papaya and nectarine are present. A good depth and even finish.

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.

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.

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.

The 2015 Cherry Tree Hill Chardonnay is a great example of a cool climate wine. The depth of amazing fruit is complimented perfectly by subtle oak tannins integrated from ten months ageing in large format French and Hungarian oak barrels.