Chardonnay is our favourite grape and this wine, from Oatley family vineyards at Mudgee, delivers a modern take on the Australian style: full-bodied yet crisp, with citrus and melon fruit flavours. Roast poultry or pork will partner it well.

CREDARO 1000 Crowns Chardonnay, Margaret River The Credaro family, originally from northern Italy, settled in Margaret River in 1922. Brothers Cesaro and Olympio worked in agriculture and the timber industry and helped build the regions first bridges, railways and major roads. The family also made wine every year for themselves and their neighbours. Commercial involvement in the wine industry had to wait until the 1980s, when the Credaros began supplying other established Margaret River wineries. In 2019 the family owned and/or managed 110ha of vineyard over five sites across the region and built a 1200-tonne winery near Yallingup in northern Margaret River, in 2003. 1000 crowns (nominally $500) was the Credaro familys original investment and the name is today applied to their flagship wines. The 1000 Crowns Chardonnay typically shows fragrant white peach and citrus aromas with pear and nougat nuances. The palate is rich with flavours of stonefruits, grapefruit and citrus blossom complemented by a creamy texture from lees influence. A fine acid line provides a mineral framework and fruit flavours generally linger through a long, flavoursome finish.

Pears, stone fruit and citrus gives way to a creamy, nutty middle and fresh acidity to close.

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.

'These Hay Shed Hill chardonnays have reached a new level in recent years, and this one is another cracker. Classically Margaret River with its powerful palate and super fruit intensity, there is a nice mix of grapefruit and pear with a little roasted cashew influence. It retains a lively freshness which makes for excellent current drinking.' - 94 Points. - Ray Jordan.

The wine displays fresh green tinges on a pale straw colour. The nose exhibits aromas of fresh cut pear and honey dew melon with some zesty citric notes. There are no overt woody or buttery aromas with the primary fruit characters expressed with clarity and definition. The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright. The Hay Shed Hill vineyard is situated on a picturesque property that was established as a group settlement farm for returned soldiers from the First World War. Known as Sussex Vale the property was originally a dairy farm. The current homestead, considerably renovated, still has much of the original Group Settlement look and feel. Vines were first planted in the early 1970s. In the late 1980s the vineyard was bought by the Morrison Family and the wine brand Hay Shed Hill was established taking its name from the local reference to the hay shed located on the property. The sister label, Pitchfork, was developed to complement the single vineyard Hay Shed Hill label. A series of ownership changes saw numerous alterations to labels, wine style and distribution until the current group of partners bought back the farm and the brand in late 2006 and returned to the original concept of producing wine with integrity that expresses the quality of the site.

From the Howard Park stable comes this impressive Chardonnay sourced from Margaret River fruit. The Gold Turtle displays opulent honeyed peach flavours with a beguiling texture that lingers on the the palate for what seems like an eternity. A perfect match to Asian Fusion cuisine as well as being more than at home when enjoyed on its own.

When you put two classics together, it is likely you will end up with Evans & Tate Chardonnay. Their new Broadway range signifies the array of vineyard locations that the grapes are sourced from, throughout Margaret River. Bringing the essence of the region to your glass. Beautiful citrus and ripe pear aromas mixed with honeydew melon undertone and yeast characters on the nose. This wine finished with a mouth watering acidity that would get you hooked for more.

This excellent expression of Chardonnay, partly due to only limited time in oak, is light, fresh and zesty but with inherent complexity. Pale straw in colour, this wine exhibits lifted nectarine and white blossom characters with underlying minerality and depth. The palate is clean and lively with tremendous depth of ripe stone-fruit flavour nuanced by cashew notes. A refreshing backbone of natural grape acidity provides further structure and length.