Giant Steps Sexton Chardonnay
This Chardonnay has plenty of robust varietal aromas of stone-fruits and melon on the nose, which is well supported with spicy oak. The palate has a soft creamy mouthfeel while maintaining a tight structure that includes well defined fruit flavours of melon, pears and a touch of citrus acidity bound by well integrated French oak.
Giant Steps Tarraford Chardonnay
Located in a protected valley, Tarraford Vineyard is cooler than its neighbouring sites. A bright and fruit-driven Chardonnay, expect citrus and tropical fruit aromas of orange, pineapple and passion fruit on the nose. A medium bodied wine on the palate, it's delicate and fresh with tropical and citrus flavours. You'll be surprised by its creamy texture and refreshing acidity which supports the lingering tropical flavours through the long finish. 'Winemaker Steve Flamsteed's chardonnays are Yarra benchmarks. This has syrupy white peach, grapefruit, herb and mealy aromas that build in the mouth, finishing long and stylish.' - Score 94 Value Good. - Age, Melbourne, 27 Aug 2013, by Ralph Kyte-Powell. Gold Medal | Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2014.
Derwent Estate Calcaire Chardonnay
Derwent Estate Calcaire Chardonnay offers a complex bouquet of lime, nuts and gentle spice. This modern style of Chardonnay offers a creamy palate of citrus fruits and white pears enhanced by hints of butterscotch and fine grained oak. The finish is clean and marked by citrus flavours.
Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay
The Beechworth terroir has a distinctive fruit character of pear/peach fruit. The oak has minimal impact by using older French oak and mainly puncheons. The warm year has meant less citrus lift but has bran meal notes from the wild ferment and extended lees contact. The palate is quite rich with zesty acid line through to the finish. Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age. Maybe leave the 2012 and 2013 for a couple more years and enjoy this in its place. Enjoy with Seafood to light meats.
Domaine Moreau-Naudet
Domaine Bernard Defaix Petit Chablis
Defaix's Petit Chablis is drawn exclusively from Kimmeridgian-based soils unlike most Petit that generally comes from the low-lying sites on Portlandian limestone to the north of the commune. It's not necessarily the type of limestone but its location that makes the difference, with Defaix's small parcel being very well situated for this level, high on the slopes of Milly. With juicy apple and stone fruit aromas and flavours, pulpy texture, a vibrant, cool close, it's a wine "on the fruit" as the French would say. It reflects both the depth of the vintage and the cool soils of the region. Certified organic.'An expressive nose blends notes of iodine and sea breeze with those of a mix of yellow orchard fruit. There is good richness to the very round and seductively textured flavors that possess evident salinity on the delicious finale. This should drink well almost immediately.' - Allen Meadows.
Paringa Estate The Paringa Chardonnay
Fruit for this wine is sourced from nine rows of P58 clone chardonnay planted on East West rows directly outside the winery doors. Once harvested the fruit was whole bunch pressed to French oak barriques (50% new) with Indigenous yeast fermenting the un-clarified juice. Barrel maturation took place on lees over the next ten months during which the chardonnay was stirred fortnightly.
Tarrawarra Estate Reserve Chardonnay
In recent years Tarrawarra Estate Reserve Chardonnay has definately turned down the volume and has become a refined and elegant Yarra Valley style chardonnay with lovely citrus zest and white peach flavours. Complimented by a smooth and rich mouthfeel, every bit a quality Chardonnay.
Shaw & Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay
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.
Savaterre Frere Cadet Chardonnay
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.