The wine has an amazing smoothness and calmness that stretches the length of the palate, surrounded with textured fruit and mineral elements. We have been playing with the fruit from these vineyards for more than 8 years, fine tuning the style of wine that these vineyards are producing. What a result once it all came together. The fruit is hand-picked then whole-bunch pressed in the winery. All the solids are collected and chilled before being put to barrel (35% new French oak). A natural fermentation will occur at cool temperatures over the next one to two months, and then a small amount of stirring helps start malolactic fermentation. The wine is then racked, fined and lightly filtered before bottling 11 months after picking. A wine with great fruit presence and varietal character at the front of the palate, the power of this site then takes over and it finishes with a very assertive line of acidity. We love everything about this 2018 Chardonnay. It is a vintage of great balance and completeness. As our greatest expression of Chardonnay, this wine has very quickly commanded a strong following around the world. Nick Farr The Farr estate is located in the Moorabool Valley between Geelong and Ballarat, 100km southwest of Melbourne. Grape growing in this region dates back more than 200 years, with Swiss settlers planting Victorias first vineyards here in the early 1800s. The rich volcanic soil and continental climate at our estate produces premium fruit with a flavour, bouquet and colour that is unique to our surrounding area. Gary and Robyn Farr purchased the original property in 1994 and the second section in 1998this latter had been untouched for almost 40 years and consisted of dense boxthorn and noxious weeds. The final piece of the puzzle, which links the two blocks of land, was purchased by Nick and Cassie Farr in 2011, making a total of 130 acresof which 36 acres are under vine and the remainder is maintained as grazing and cropping for cattle and horses. With a mixture of different clones and rootstocks, the grape varieties grown here are viognier, chardonnay, pinot noir, gamay and shiraz.

Gary Farr is still one of Victoria's true Chardonnay maestro's and his Chardonnay By Farr is another example. Taken from the original By Farr vineyard, this is a clearly a wine of true clarity and finesse. Flavours of melon and hints of spice with wonderful oak integration mean this wine is simply delicious upon release, but handle some careful medium-term cellaring.

At Mount Mary they aim to make a Chardonnay of great length that is able to reach a balance between complexity & finesse. Unashamedly Burgundian in concept, local Yarra Valley practices are employed to fully express the unique terroir, including the wine not going through Malolactic fermentation as Mount Mary's cool-climate leaves the fruit with ideal acidity when picked. Matured in 20% new French barriques with the remainder in older barrels and large casks and along with grape solids, this is a Chardonnay of impressive texture and complexity.

The flagship white wine from Hardy's, the Eileen Hardy has become one of Australia's benchmark Chardonnays. Complex, elegant and very much cool climate in style it drinks superbly now and will only improve.

Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny Montrachet Les Perrieres is a wine of fine mineral nuance. More cerebral, a delight on its own. With its fine and dainty floral aromas, then broad and rich in the mouth with a certain power and lovely length. From 0.146 ha of vines planted in 1986 which were purchased by Jean-Louis. This wine spends eleven months in the barrel followed by a further seven in stainless-steel tanks. 25-30% new barrels. "Jean-Louis Chavy’s wines are a masterclass in finesse, showcasing the purity of Puligny-Montrachet’s terroir." - Jancis Robinson. Maker: The Chavy family has been rooted in Puligny-Montrachet for over 200 years, but it was not until 1986 that Gérard Chavy began to estate-bottle his wines, previously selling them to négociants. Following Gérard's retirement around 2005, the estate was divided into two separate entities managed by his sons, Jean-Louis and Alain Chavy. Jean-Louis Chavy has since developed a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, complete with a temperature-controlled cellar situated at the base of the village. This allows him to work comfortably while ensuring the wines are stored in optimal conditions. His son, Paul Chavy, has been part of the estate since before the pandemic and has embarked on creating his own range of wines, sourcing fruit from regions including Saint-Aubin and as far as Gevrey-Chambertin. The Chavy family continues to uphold a legacy of quality and tradition in their winemaking, offering a tantalising glimpse into the heart of Burgundy. For father and son terroir expression is paramount, with wines crafted in a consistent manner allowing the unique soil and exposure to shine through. Jean-Louis and Paul Chavy’s wines are effortless and unforced, showcasing exceptional fruit purity and a clear expression of terroir in each 1er cru. With his son Paul now working full-time at the estate after completing his winemaking studies, the added support in both the vineyard and cellar translates to even greater precision and clarity in every bottle. These wines embody a classic style, aging and developing gracefully over time. Quantities are always limited, and they sell out quickly upon release. So best to grab them while you can. The Philosophy: Vinification is classic with whole bunch pressing and 24 hours of settling with temperature control and only natural yeasts used for fermentation. Jean-Louis has not used any battonage on any cuvees for some years now. The average age of vines at this estate is impressive with most vineyards now aged between 30 to 50 years old though some in Folatieres and Clavoillons amongst the oldest planted in 1952. For the elevage of the wines the use of new oak is restrained with the village Puligny seeing only 15% new oak and the 1er cru’s just 25%. Recent years have seen a move towards 350 litre barrels for ageing to have less oak influence. Unfortunately there are no Grand cru vineyards among his holdings, however his 1er cru’s are located very close to some of the best vineyards in the heart of Puligny. Nose - Delicate Florals, Struck Match, Cream Fine and delicate floral aromas, accompany the sweet spice of the oak and the tart tangy notes of the citrus. Palate - Broad and Rich, Ripe Orchard Fruits, Powerful Aristocratic, with complexity combining concentration, ripeness, acidity and minerality. Finish - Steely Edge, Minerals, Roasted Nuts Excellent combination of ripe fruit and acidity with a steely edge on the finish. A fine example of premier cru Puligny which won't disappoint.

Kevin Cullen was a passionate believer in the quality of Margaret River as a wine region and particularly of its potential to become one of the great areas for both Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here's his proof! [Biodynamic]

Is this Australia's best Chardonnay? If not then it shares the rarified air reserved for only the finest examples. Rich yet restrained, with mineral notes, cashew and almond meal, amazing fruit complexity and wonderful length...why not try the benchmark?