"This is a beautifully crafted wine, fruit-focused and finely detailed. Nothing is overdone, allowing for a graceful flow of lemon, starfruit and white peach flavours. Oak maturation has imparted subtle detail and nuance, resulting in a seamless palate that retains the essence of the site. A light chill between 11–13°C will showcase the wine at its best. 95pts" (Toni Paterson, The Halliday Wine Companion). For John Lehmann, writing in The Australian, "The dictionary definition of elegant might look something like this – a refined nose of honey, lemon posset, flint and almond is a wonderful segue into a palate of amazing complexity. Expect lemon curd, grapefruit pith, oak spice and clove, all of it delicate and well balanced from the acid." 5 Red Star rated Leogate Estate was established in 2009 by Bill and Vicki Widin. Their vines are much older – the Widins are proud owners of the original Brokenback Vineyard established by the legendary Len Evans of Rothbury Estate fame over 40 years ago.

"The aim here is to reveal just what the very best fruit from the team’s Kuitpo Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills can offer. This wine has the advantage of coming from the very fine 2022 vintage and the fruit is from the original plantings in their vineyard. Fermentation was in French oak barriques. Yellow/green in hue, there is a most attractive nose with hints of stone fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon curd and mandarins. Gentle hints of apricot skins lurk in the background. Balance is exemplary and the oak has integrated exactly as the team must have wished it would. The wine is fresh, offering exciting energy and good intensity. It is well balanced and has a long, lingering finish. The seductive texture will blow away lovers of top-notch Chardy. Enjoy this over the next ten to twelve years. Love it. 95pts" (Ken Gargett, WinePIlot). "It’s a wine like this that reminds us why appreciating the aromas is so important,…" writes John Lehmann in The Australian, "… because the sheer complexity – think oak, vanilla, cedar, lemon, straw and nuttiness – then makes the first sip even more powerful. The palate duly delivers, full of intense fruit, ripe mandarin, creamy vanilla and nougat and beautifully balanced by the acidity." Geoff Hardy’s great-great-grandfather, the original Thomas Hardy, first planted grapes in SA in the 1850s and was one of the founding fathers of the Australian wine industry. Geoff and his partner Fiona purchased an old dairy farm in the Kuitpo area of the southern Adelaide Hills in 1986 and planted out the first vineyard in the Kuitpo region.

Indulge in a Reserve-level Chardonnay from vineyards in Padthaway with a raft of high point scores up to 96pts. "…a most impressive Chardonnay from the Padthaway region." says Ken Gargett, WinePilot, and Sam Kim Wine Orbit is even more impressed, calling it: "Rich yet refined and alluring, the bouquet shows golden peach, rockmelon, brioche, and stylish oak aromas, followed by a concentrated palate exhibiting outstanding weight and depth. Wonderfully complemented by a creamy texture and fine acidity, making it harmonious and flowing to a long, seamless finish. At its best: now to 2035.96pts" (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit). "The Reserve centres around ripe fruit for its concentration and presence. Peach trifle, mango lassi and lemon curd. The new oak support is creamy and chai spiced, rather than toasty. The palate follows suit with a real custard middle palate, the richness of yolk and fleshy peach. A very edible wine and one for those that enjoy the curves and breadth of ripe chardonnay fruit. 92pts." (Shanteh Wale, The Halliday Wine Companion).

This is a very classy, high scoring Tasmanian Sparkler with scores of 95, 92 & 91pts “Gorgeously composed… elegantly complex bouquet… a finely flowing palate…creamy and delightfully textured… refreshing and hugely enjoyable. 95pts” as Sam Kim, Wine Orbit writes. Shanteh Wale finds it: “Excellent value for a sparkling wine… 92pts” while Jeni Port calls it a: “Nicely executed sparkling from Australia’s premier sparkling wine region [the Coal River Valley]… Impressive.” Expect “Aromas of spice-baked apples and peachy fruit with hints of crème brûlée, crushed oyster shell, white flowers, mushroom broth, freshly baked brioche, apple turnover… 91pts” (Halliday).

Indulge in a distinctive and distinguished Hunter Valley Reserve Chardonnay with scores of 95 & 94pts. “If you enjoy bold, intensely flavoured chardonnay, the opulence and intensity of the H10 block will delight. The wine is packed with concentrated peachy fruit, supported by creamy oak nuances. The mid-palate is expansive, with ripe stone fruits enlivened by a touch of grapefruit. Due to its intensity, it can handle a decent chill and pairs well with flavoursome foods. 94pts” (Toni Paterson, The Halliday Wine Companion). Sam Kim, Wine Orbit finds it: “Wonderfully fruited and complex…" with "… enticing aromas… and excellent depth and persistence… wonderfully harmonious and lingering, with an expansive finish.95pts" Established in 2009 by Bill and Vicki Widin, Leogate Estate once the prized vineyard of Len Evans, a pioneer of modern Australian wine, and is already a formidable force. Last year marked their 10th consecutive 5 Red Star Halliday rating, an extremely impressive feat considering they were established a little over a decade ago.

One of the best value Margaret River Chardonnays out there. Michael Kerrigan is doing an amazing job producing Chardonnays of elegance. Hay Shed Hill has delicate grapefruit and stone fruit flavours on the palate. And these flavours are matched with fine, minerally acidity with suble oak towards the finish.

Tasting Notes: Pineapple, nectarine and lime aromatics along with lengthy butterscotch and biscotti flavours. A well-structured wine to be enjoyed from now to 2020.