YARRA YERING No.1 Dry White, Yarra Valley The fruit for the Yarra Yering Dry White No. 1 was sourced from a dry grown block south of Underhill Vineyard, slightly higher in elevation. A Bordeaux inspired white blend of Semillon and Chardonnay. A bright and refreshing young wine on a summer’s day, all zingy and zesty. The real beauty here will come from some cellar maturation. The magic of Semillon will shape this with time into a toasty and deeply layered mature wine. Rewarding careful cellaring for up to 10 years.

The vineyards of Hautes-Côtes de Beaune (High Slopes of Beaune) may be 80% Pinot Noir but it is Chardonnay that occupies many of the best sites, like this one, Sous Eguisons (Under the cliff of Eguisons), bordering Saint-Aubin, facing south-east and protected from the cold northerly winds (and frosts) that can be hazardous at this relatively high altitude (430-450m). One hectare of roughly 10,000 vines are trained low and were planted between 2002 and 2005 in limestone-rich soil. Caroline Lestimé has enhanced the reputation of this fine producer since taking over from her famous father, Jean Noel Gagnard, in 1989. Jean Noel Gagnard handed his eponymous Domaine to his daughter Caroline Lestimé in 1989. She had studied business in Paris, before returning to the village to take over the reins of the family estate, and had to handle male chauvinism at its most rampant. Nonetheless, she has followed her own convictions, and enhanced (rather than diminished) the reputation of this fine producer. In the vineyard, she uses no fertilisers or herbicides, but has not taken hold of the biodynamic bible. - James Halliday

PARINGA ESTATE The Paringa Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula

CLOTILDE DAVENNE Chablis Vieilles Vignes Chablis is a superb winegrowing region entirely dedicated to Chardonnay. Clotilde Davenne Chablis comes from the village of Courgis, right next door to her winery in Prehy. Pale in colour with hints of green, the Chablis Vieilles Vignes offers a nice freshness and aromatic nose of fresh fruits, white flowers and dried fruit. The mineral aromas, of flint in particular, make it sing.

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.

Patrick Sullivan Chardonnay Baw Baw Shire Made from the south-facing slope of Patrick Sullivans Bull Swamp vineyard. The grapes are whole-bunch pressed to a new 2000 litre oval vat. Fermentation takes place over 10 days with full malolactic fermentation following immediately after. The wine shows plush stone fruit, a rich structure and a savoury persistence with high acid and defined texture. 'wines inspired by emotion, a moment in time and a sense of place'- Patrick Sullivan