Kevin Cullen was a passionate believer in the quality of Margaret River as a wine region and particularly of its potential to become one of the great areas for both Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here's his proof! [Biodynamic]

Devil's Lair is one of Margaret River's most respected wineries. This superbly structured Chardonnay displays lingering flavours influenced by top quality French oak; a beautiful textured mouth feel and tight acidity.

A complex array of melon fig and cashew aromas is followed by a typically elegant and subtle palate with beautifully integrated oak. Petaluma had set a benchmark in Australian Chardonnay.

Palate - Light and delicate with a tight, fine line of acidity, leading to a long focused palate with a creamy texture. Rich autolysis characters of brioche and nougat lead the way with hints of citrus, almond, fennel and hay. This refreshing wine has a long, dry, crisp finish. Winemaking The Chardonnay fruit is gently pressed off skins with a series of press fractions going to separate holding tanks for later assessment. The juice is settled bright and fermented cold with a neutral yeast strain in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation takes place, so as to obtain a finer, tighter acid structure. The wine was then bottled on the 23rd of May 2019 with a dose of active yeast and sugar (known as ‘tirage’) to encourage the secondary ferment. The bottle ferment lasts approximately six weeks after which the tirage sparkling wine rests in storage for four years gaining complexity from contact with the yeast lees. When deemed to be balanced and with sufficient autolysis character, we send the bottles for riddling and disgorging where the yeast plug is removed and the cork inserted. This wine was disgorged on the 7th of July 2020. Storage/Bottling - The unique nature of this sparkling wine is that bottling occurs as part of the winemaking process early in the wine’s life. In the case of the Georgette, the final disgorging and packaging process occurs four years after the wine is first put to bottle. Heavy grade sparkling glass, stylish labeling and the traditional white hood of the Forester brand complete the elegant package.

The Cullen Metricup Chardonnay is a fresh and elegant expression from Margaret River, crafted with a minimalist, natural approach. The Chardonnay is from the Metricup area, and comes with authentic sustainable credentials from a certified organic vineyard in conversion to biodynamic.

Occasionally, when rare parcels of particularly outstanding Beechworth grapes become available, Savaterre's wine maker Keppell Smith likes to create something unique, like this Chardonnay, and bottle it under Savaterre's Frere Cadet (Younger Brother) label. These wines are created with the same attention to detail that goes into their premium Savaterre label.

The Philip Shaw No.11 Chardonnay is produced from high altitude vineyards in a region firmly claiming its rightful place at the table of great Chardonnay regions, Orange of NSW. A brilliant combination of flavours of citrus and honey dew and a great sense of minerality with a firm focus on low crops and supreme site selection.

If you want to try the benchmark in this style then look no further than Pierro. A clean and concentrated palate of lemon sherbet and gooseberry with a hint of oak influence. LTC stands for 'little touch of Chardonnay' which adds the right amount of palate weight and complexity.

A medium bodied wine with a fleshy mouth feel, displaying peach, nectarine, citrus blossom and subtle sweet oak. Well integrated acid with underlying complex savoury notes and a lingering finish.

Dog Point from Marlborough in New Zealand have quickly established themselves as quality Marlborough producers with their range of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. This Chardonnay has lovely texture due to lees stirring and balanced oak influence. Hints of citrus still remain to produce a Chardonnay of versatility.