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).

"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.

"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.

RedHeads aren't shy of creating a stir, all in the name of top winemaking. And Harmonie Chardie really rocks! Since starting off in 2002, Redheads have blazed a trail to become one of Australia’s leading sustainable cellars – masters of small-batch, eco-friendly winemaking. They've won 8 trophies and over 200 Golds for their wines, including two for the debut release of Harmonie Rox. All the grapes come from grower Jack Bursten’s unique Coonawarra vineyard. It was originally planted by the late, great Wayne Stehbans – twice winner of Australia’s most prestigious wine Trophy, the Jimmy Watson. So he knew a thing or two about growing top grapes! And it really shows in the wine. Fermented in part new French oak, it's creamy, spiced and fruity.

With 130 years of expertise under the family’s belt, Angove have plenty of experience to call upon. In recent years they have been awarded ‘Winery of the Year’ and many medals besides for individual wines. Fourth generation John Angove now heads up the cellar that Dr William Angove started in 1886 near Adelaide (by making award winning brandy – a product they’re still famous for) and, besides championing unusual grapes, John also pioneers modern styles of wine. His 2018 turns its back on the weighty, golden, heavily oaked Chardonnays of last century and embraces bright stone fruit, shot through by lemony brilliance. No wonder this grape is back in favour.

Modern Australian Chardonnay is revolutionising the varietal, and this single vineyard Tumbarumba is a prime example. Experience lifted grapefruit, honeydew melon and lemon zest aromas on the nose. The wine is bright with flavours of green apple, lime and creamy cashew notes on the middle palate. The finish is long and refined with a lovely driving line of acidity.