This is the third vintage of Ballewindi Chardonnay that Sandro Mosele from Kooyong has produced exclusively for us, and he certainly hasn't dropped the ball. Another cracking Chardonnay that proves he is the master of Mornington. Sandro uses whole bunches and barrel fermenting before letting the wine spend 10 months in French oak. There's peach, fresh sweet hay, subtle notes of cream and honeydew melon on the nose. The palate balances ripe stone fruit flavours with hints of citrus and a creamy texture. It's delicate yet rounded, and is a leading light for modern Aussie Chardonnay.

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.