Light gold, with a fresh, green rim. Stonefruit, pear and citrus notes and seductive fresh toast, dried herbs and malty aromas from barrel fermentation. Palate Remarkable fruit sweetness, intensity and persistence, matched with lovely texture and savoury elements and balanced by fresh, natural acidity. A prolonged cool and wet growing season meant the vines were lush and healthy heading into ripening. This resulted in later harvest dates, accentuated by the cool and wet ripening months; conditions not experienced in Western Australia for more than 10 years. These conditions, coupled with the absence of heat events, produced highly aromatic whites with good natural acidity. The fruit was selectively handpicked at perfect ripeness, before being loaded into an airbag press and gently squeezed. The free-run juice was continuously tasted until an optimum point was reached. The juice underwent wild fermentation in new French oak puncheons, then remained in barrel for 7-10 months, with monthly lees stirring to provide texture and mouthfeel. Each batch was carefully assessed for inclusion in the final blend. This minimal handling has produced a unique, delicate Redbrook Chardonnay style that will develop great complexity over time.

The Kevin John Chardonnay is Cullens flagship white from their biodynamic vineyards. A refined and elegant style brimming with white peach and citrus, showing bakery nutty complexity and deft oak integration. The wine is named in honour of Vanya Cullens father, the late Kevin John Cullen. Grapes are harvested on a flower or fruit day and whole-bunch pressed to obtain the highest quality juice. It is then barrel fermented with native yeasts in French oak barriques and matured for approximately 7 months in one- third new and two-thirds seasoned oak barrels.

The Tate family are one of the most famous wine names in Western Australia, especially in Margaret River. It was the Tate family who began Evans & Tate decades ago and today the Tate name is re-born under the Franklin Tate Estates label. Franklin, son of John, has sourced some of the most prestigious vineyard sites in Margaret River and has highly regarded winemaker Rory Clifton-Parks to hand-craft the quality wines, like this traditional Chardonnay.

Sourced from the lush vineyards of Margaret River, Skywater Bay Chardonnay has all the beautiful flavours of honeydew melon and grapefruit. Combined with expert winemaking techniques and a touch of oak, this wine has a long finish that lingers with every sip.

Moss Wood is one of the oldest Margaret River wineries and has an enviable reputation for high quality, stylish wines that are true to place. Arguably one of the country's top ten Chardonnays, this is a wine that demonstrates finesse and elegance in equal proportions to intensity and power. Fantastically bold yet classicly proportioned, this is a wine to be savoured with fine fare and great friends.

Xanadu Fusion Chardonnay gives an elegant bouquet full of pears, grapefruit and gala apples with underlying hints of nougat and cashew. The palate is medium bodied displaying white fleshed stone fruits and zesty citrus flavours. The wine offers an almost crystalline minerality, complimented by a lovely creamy/marshmallow texture derived from lees stirring whilst in barrel. Taut and fresh, the bright fruit and crisp acidity combine to focus the wine perfectly to a lingering fruit finish.

The citrus rind and grapefuit lead the palate to an overall fine yet textural journey. Cape Mentelle Chardonnay had this distinctive minerally line too, apparent with focussed refreshing acidity. Faint nuancesof soft nougat and cashews also add to what is a harmonious balance and an elegant and length finish.

Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay gives aromas of fresh stone fruit and citrus blossom combining with warm straw, cedar spice and chipped oyster shell. The Palate displays pure and elegant stone fruit, lime zest and jasmine. A fine acid backbone combines with lees-derived texture to produce a wine of depth, and complexity with an underlying minerality.

The Lenton Brae Southside Chardonnay plays off the already established Wilyabrup Chardonnay with a fresh, vibrant feel to the wine. A cleansing line of acid is evident throughout the palate as is the textured mouthfeel courtesy of 'wild' primary fermentation and the addition of quality oak to the process. Designed to be enjoyed in its youth, this classic Margaret River Chardonnay will also enjoy some short to medium-term cellaring to coax out its true essence.

Is this Australia's best Chardonnay? If not then it shares the rarified air reserved for only the finest examples. Rich yet restrained, with mineral notes, cashew and almond meal, amazing fruit complexity and wonderful length...why not try the benchmark?