Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay
The wines of Fraser Gallop Estate are intensely flavoured, textured and complex. Only the finest quality French oak barrels are used for all Fraser Gallop Estate wines, with very specific Bordelais coopers used for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends, and Burgundian coopers for the Chardonnay. The complete winemaking process takes place at the estate - picking to vinification to barrel maturation to bottling to cellaring. Fraser Gallop Estate is an estate grown, produced and bottled wine. Flavours of lemon curd and grapefruit with searing length. A wine with clarity and finesse. A tightly focussed and very precise wine showing seamless fruit purity with the lightly toasted French oak very much in the background. Crystalline acidity and a mouth-watering finish complete this Chardonnay.
Lark Hill Biodynamic Grüner Veltliner
Lark Hill have been the pioneers of this traditional Austrian variety. It was back in 2002 when Jancis Robinson visited the vineyards and stated that Lark Hill was the perfect place to grow Grüner Veltliner due to its overall terroir. With links to bio-dynaimc farming already being established, Chris Carpenter thought it was the obvious connection to begin making Grüner. Wonderfully fragrant with more than a hint of spice, Lark Hill's Grüner has a lovely textural component to it as well making it an ideal match white fish, shell fish and subtle charcuterie.
Dalwhinnie Moonambel Chardonnay
The 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Dalwhinnie Chardonnay in the Pyrenees in western Victoria, and the wine is still not missing a beat. With less oak used now than in previous vintages, the wine exhibits magnificent citrus and mineral flavours and aromas with a delicate honey flavour notes and texture. A truly elegant wine.
Kooyong Chardonnay
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.
Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay
Since the early 90's, Penfolds have been producing Chardonnay from the cool climate region of Tumbarumba. The Chardonnay is elegant with white florals, stone fruits and a great acidity structure. Maturation in French Oak gives the Bin 311 a subtle nutty savoury flavour through and through. A great all season wine for all sorts of occasions.
Devil's Lair 9th Chamber Chardonnay
Devil's Lair have been leaders in producing some of Margaret River's, if not Australia's, best and well-balanced Chardonnays. Now they have decided to take it to the next stage and release their first single vineyard estate Chardonnay. This wine is a triumph of both winemaking and viticulture - a perfect balance has been achieved between toasty complexity with an almost unctuous feel along with a level of restraint and purity. Almost like the wine has been cinched in with perfectly placed pleats.
Pierro Chardonnay
Margaret River is a world renowned Chardonnay producing region and Pierro can rightfully stake a claim as to why. Incredibly complex, it is a tangle of fine-boned acid, lees complexity, pristine fruit and the most detailed use of good quality oak. Extremely enjoyable now, but will benefit from short to medium term cellaring.
Moss Wood Chardonnay
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.
Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay
Giant Steps plays it's part in the rapid accension of Australian Chardonnay back to the position it once held here. That being of the king of white varieties. This is a very stylish numbe from Phil Sexton and his team. Stonefruit, melon and butterscotch characters are supported by vanillin oak and the palate is long and textured with a clean crisp finish.
