The Black Pig's 'The Prize' label is saved for extra special parcels of supreme quality fruit, and this beauty is from a very special property indeed in WA's Margaret River. The estate cannot be named but be assured that fruit quality there is paramount and this elegant, full-flavoured Chardonnay is a real bargain even at its full RRP.

The impressive West Cape Howe is owned by a partnership of four WA families, including those of Gavin Berry and Rob Quenby. Grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in Mount Barker and Frankland River. Styx Gully is 100% Mt Barker grown; all the fruit from our best two blocks of Chardonnay on our Langton vineyard. Block 3 had a tiny crop with rich fruit flavours, Block 25 has deeper soils, a better crop and ripened later; it provided the fruit with higher acidity and delicate, finer fruit flavours. Some of the parcels were handpicked and whole bunch pressed; the balance of the fruit picked at night with low overnight temperatures and processed promptly at the winery. Styx is all barrel fermented (approx 40% new) with no malolactic fermentation; the result being a complex, but still fruit driven, style of Chardonnay. “Its all about freshness and energy. Citrus and melon with a muted cashew character on the nose. The palate is finely balanced with penetrating finish promoted by a crisp chalky acidity. Has a little white flower and lime influence adding complexity. 92pts” (Ray Jordan)

"Our single vineyard range represents the pinnacle of what we do at Mountadam Vineyards. Each wine is made from fruit selected from a single Estate block". In the 1860s a South Australian landowner Sir Samuel Davenport was given a cutting of “chardonuet” by a French horticulturist. Somehow the cutting came to be grown in the South Australian Governor’s summer residence, a property known as Marble Hill in the Adelaide Hills. The vines eventually came to the attention of renowned wine industry pioneer David Wynn, who took a cutting and propagated further vines at a nursery in Adelaide. He planted them out on a beautiful elevated site on his Mountadam vineyard in 1972, making these the oldest cool climate chardonnay vines in Australia. The clone no longer exists anywhere else in the world.

"...loads of nougat, woody spice and creamy vanilla oak over nectarine and peach, red apple, brown lime, ginger biscuits and oatmeal. Concentrated and dense, quite tight through the finish, but trails off with minerally complexity. It's a serious, stately Chardonnay and does this all very well. 95pts. Special Value." writes Mikle Bennie in The Halliday Wine Companion. "This has turned out mighty well despite a vintage that was extraordinarily early.... The palate is quite luscious but the crisp acid and careful use of oak has tightened it to sustain a precise long finish.93pts" Ray Jordan, WinePilot.

Ready to indulge your senses in a dozen of the finest Chardonnays from Yarra Valley and Western Australia? For only $179 (valued at $380.91), you can do just that. This scorchingly impressive series of traditional and old world whites are all-Australian, all highly awarded and all critically acclaimed. Dont miss out.

We have offered this exemplary wine for over two decades and the multitude of awards over the years – and the 5-Star reviews – speak volumes. It is our bestselling sparkler by a mile. Roche Lacour winemaker Viviane Gianesini works her magic beneath the cool hills of Limoux. Here, the monks of Saint Hilaire are said to have mastered sparkling wine methods in 1531, centuries ahead of Dom Pérignon. Bottles back then were fragile and didn’t travel, so their success remained a secret. The cuvée is rich in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – like Champagne – and nearly half the wine is oak fermented – just like Krug! It’s an expensive technique (so rarely practised) yet important for depth and complexity. Enjoy on its own or with deserving canapés.

Andrew grew up in the world of wine and went on to work for some top names in Australia before settling down to craft really characterful, great value wines like this one, under his own name. A small amount of fermentation in oak has lent The Full Fifteen Chardonnay lovely toasty nuances, a nutty complexity and a soft creamy character.