A fine-boned Chardonnay that reflects vintage conditions and the character of a unique vineyard site purchased by Shaw + Smith in 2012. Inaugural vintage: 2014. Planted in 1999, the vineyard has east and west facing aspects and reaches 500 meters above sea level. The soil is brown loam over clay with some broken shale and stone on the ridges. The wine is100% hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented and matured on lees in 500-litre French oak puncheons (30% new) for 9 months.

Aromas of white stone fruits, citrus and flint are complemented with toasted nut characters on the palate. High altitude sites product premium fruit with medium weight which is balanced with lively acidity giving elegance and a lingering finish. Hamish and Kate Laurie continue a five generation winemaking tradition. Devoted to the high altitude sites of the Adelaide Hills and with Kate's French oenology training the wines they produce are at once traditional and contemporary. With a fiery passion to create premium bottle fermented and aged sparkling together with aromatic whites that can genuinely cellar, their signature style is focussed, textural, restrained and balanced. At Deviation Road every sip reveals a little of this mystery; a taste of the terroir, a glimpse at the season, a hint of the science and a wink to the heritage that crafts its existence.

Colour: Pale gold straw Aroma: Fresh, aromatic nose of lemon sorbet and white peach, honeydew melon with classic flint and a hint of reduction. Palate: Finely structured, elegant and delicate. Food friendly notes of brioche and cream are cut through by clean natural acidity. Well balanced and complex.

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.

Penfolds Maxs Chardonnay is a tribute to former Chief Winemaker Max Schubert, a legend in Penfolds history. Pale straw in colour with green hues, this wine has a very nice textural and creamy palate with a soft line of acid fading ever so slowly to a distant palate horizon.

The Adelaide Hills wine region is known for producing exceptional - quality chardonnay grapes that are intense in flavour and elegant in character. Wicks Estate in Adelaide Hills presented this great Chardonnay which is light straw - yellow in colour. It was created using grapes that were crop - thinned and leaf - plucked extensively by the growers so that superior - quality chardonnay grapes could be obtained from the vineyard. After compression was done and the juice was extracted from the fruit, it was poured into a select range of French barrels so that it could undergo barrel fermentation. The result was this richly flavoured wine that is bound to please most white wine lovers.

The grapes used to craft The Katana Chardonnay were handpicked, chilled overnight, and whole bunch pressed. The juice was rough settled, and transferred to French oak barriques for fermentation. This process led to the creation of a pale straw coloured wine with golden yellow highlights along the edges. This wonderful Chardonnay presents a supple core of citrus blossom and white stone fruit characters, enhanced by mineral notes. The juicy palate contains flavours of bright fruits and French oak supported by crisp acidity, ending in a lively and captivating climax. This alluring white wine can be enjoyed within 5 years from vintage. Drink it with potato soup, roasted vegetable pizza, and chorizo and sweet potato risotto.

RIPOSTE BY TIM KNAPPSTEIN The Katana Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills