Chardonnay

James Suckling  "There’s a fresh and lively feel to this rich and layered chardonnay that offers plenty of peach flavour and some mango, too. All delivered in a quite assertive, structured and punchy, taut mode. Drink now."

Winemaker "The 2018 vintage has produced a classic Hawke's Bay Chardonnay. Beautifully fragrant citrus, stone fruit and roasted nuts combine on a finely styled, textured and balanced palate showing good complexity."

JancisRobinson.com "Surprisingly rich nose. Fine, appetising, crisp palate with just a little chewiness still evident at this point. There's a suggestion of sweet grapefruit juice. Really clean, fresh and long."

Bob Campbell - MW "The first vintage of Village Chardonnay I tasted was from the 2002 vintage and it has been my “house Chardonnay” ever since."

94+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “An incredibly appealing Chardonnay which oozes charm and offers superb value. Stone fruits intermingle with a little grapefruit, lemon oil and that wonderful jasmine character which appears to be the Domaine Naturaliste signature. Textural and the flavours fan out fabulously – the finish is admirably long which emphasises the excellent quality to value ratio. Pristine and no shortage of fruit. Overall, so enjoyable, so much pleasure.” Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

94++ Points - Stuart McCloskey “Clearly, young is stating the obvious but I love sampling embryonic wines which provide pleasure today and in the future. The Soumah team picks this particular Chardonnay as early as they can to ensure a fresh line of citrus fruit and crisp natural acidity, which and if read alone would offer a degree of understatement. The joy of this young wine comes from its silky structure and palate feel which are achieved through barrel fermentation (specifically maturing gracefully for eight months prior to bottling). The nose offers a little poached pear and apple with a light sprinkling of sweet spice. The palate is crisp, clean, full of energy and lovely precision. Stony / minerals rather than dry. There’s a chewy grip which is admirable. Impressive with a few years of improvement ahead of it. Certainly, worth buying.”

Nick Stock – JamesSuckling.com “This has vivid peach and lemon aromas with nicely framed, cedary oak adding hazelnut and spice. Lemon peel, too. The palate is smoothly fleshy with a gently creamy peach and lemon core. Smooth, even and so juicy with a fresh lemon and hazelnut-flavored finish.”

95 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit  "Refined and sophisticated, the wine shows elegantly fragrant aromas of ripe peach, fig, toasted almond, vanilla and oatmeal on the nose, leading to a concentrated palate that displays excellent depth and weight, wonderfully complemented by creamy mouthfeel and bright acidity. A multi-layered beauty offering poise and complexity. At its best: now to 2025."

Winemaker "Intense and complex, this wine displays aromas of ripe peach, fig, toasted almond, vanilla and oatmeal on the nose.. A concentrated palate that displays excellent depth and weight, wonderfully complemented by a creamy mouthfeel and bright acidity"

96+ Points - Magdalena Sienkiewicz "Although Bricolage blends are a permanent feature of the Topper’s Mountain range, the composition varies from vintage to vintage. The 2014 Blanc is a fascinating blend of Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. The Gewürztraminer influence is clear as it takes centre stage with its highly aromatic profile. Rich citrus and lychee dominate the perfume however, the aromatics are incredibly complex nevertheless. Wet stones, sweet vanilla, red grapefruit, cantaloupe melon and sea spray. Wholly unique. The palate is much more savoury than the perfume suggests but the freshness prevails. An abundance of citrus and minerals are delectable and they linger with impressive length. Such a distinctive wine. Unusual blends often present wacky styles however, Bricolage Blanc is rather fine and incredibly textural. Hats off! Bottle age served this wine well – there is no need for further cellaring and you should enjoy this beauty on the day of opening."

Huon Hooke, The Real Review, July 2018 “This unusual and excellent wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Petit Manseng. With a pungently spicy Gewürz-driven bouquet, it has an oily, round texture and is voluptuously soft, with stacks of flavour and character. The finish lasts long and the acidity keeps it tight and fresh.”

Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, Sept 2018 “Fleshy white of savoury nuttiness, floral characters, exotic spice and medium weight. There’s a sense of hyper-floral lift in both perfume and palate, but the gist is mostly about greener fruit flavours of pear and just ripe stone fruit. Finishes succulent and a touch grippy with a nice, bitter twist. Really lovely, really good.”

96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “The aromatics are a delight and dance a wonderful tune of maya lemon, homemade lemonade, jasmine in all its perfumed glory, more white flowers and the maritime climate speaks in volumes. Silky texture with flavours comparable to the bouquet; lemon juice and zest melded with stony minerality. Yuzu too but spiced – super racy. I thoroughly enjoy the pretty floral character which softens the wine slightly. Extremely satisfying, moreish and approachable now, but does offer the ‘keeper’ a further 5+ years of cellarage ahead of it. In fact, a few years in the cellar will bring this wine on… Full of energy, lots of tension and the finish is long and zesty. Wonderful intensity for a wine of this price. To summarise, a very classy offering from team Domaine Naturaliste… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

95 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Pour and allow a few minutes before tucking into the glorious scents of smoked flint, grapefruit, citrus and crisp, green apple. The palate is bursting with stone fruits, green apple, flint, grapefruit, saline and fresh fennel – spicy too. Texturally, there’s grip and a real mid-palate chew which adds to the wine’s complexity. The acid profile is pitch perfect, it is tight and controlled. It feels polished and refined, the length is incredible for a wine of this value. There’s bags of life left in it as it is so bright and vigorous. I love the long, phenolic grip. Incredibly satisfying and comes highly recommended. Drink now to 2025. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.” 

96 Points  - Stuart McCloskey “I love the nose with its steely freshness – racy and cool climate, sweetened with a whiff of poached pears. The palate is much fuller than the Upper Ngumby and will appeal (enormously so) to those seeking a richer style. There’s a lovely combination of depth and mouth-watering freshness. The fruit is evidently sweeter and fills the mid-palate gloriously. Stony minerality keeps the wine in perfect check. This is a chardonnay on full parade, just bumptious and proud to be. A touch of salinity on the super long finish. Bloody brilliant – it’s as simple as that. Drink now to 2025.”

96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “The Upper Ngumby vineyard is within the confines of Yarra Glen, sloping gently east. It is protected from the late afternoon sun by the Christmas Hills, rising up to the west. The fruit was barrel fermented with 100% wild yeast, matured on lees for eight months with some secondary fermentation to create depth and finesse, which team Soumah succeed effortlessly. The nose offers a mix of lemon zest, minéralité and ozone. Serenely pure in two words. The palate is long and sophisticated. Full of drive, vigour and energy – lovely freshness and very moreish. This will flourish with more time in the bottle, drink now to 2025.”

96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “Another fabulous release from the Pierro team. The bouquet is taut, super-clean, wonderfully delineated with scents of citrus lemon, lemon curd, orange blossom and a judicious stroke of minerals. As you would expect, the palate is perfectly balanced and wonderfully poised. Given its tender age – it’s already showing a degree of complexity which runs from citrus lemon, saline, flint, the faintest soupçon of lime to orange zest and fresh ginger. Texturally, it’s on point and belies a wine of this value – there’s real depth and substance which will broaden over the next 3-6 years. Like the bouquet - this is taut and wonderfully fresh. Waves of energy and bucketloads of citrus saline which is a joy (very Margaret River). This should be filed under ‘a stonking bargain.’ Delicious in every sense. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware which helps given its age. Decant for 20 mins or so and do not overchill…”

96++ Points - Stuart McCloskey “By far one of my favourite annual releases, as I am fascinated by the wacky blend (Old Vine Chenin Blanc and Crouchen, Angaston; Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills; Chardonnay, Krondorf; Pinot Gris, Adelaide Hills) and the textural feel too, the wine provides glass after glass of uncompromised satisfaction. The grapes are lovingly hand harvested, foot treaded and left on stalks and skins for 24 hours. JC ages the wine on the lees for 11 months and bottles unfined and unfiltered, hence a little cloudiness. Bring everything together and you are presented with a textural beauty which will gain complexity over the coming 3-5 years, but there is no harm in drinking this wine now as it’s so irresistible. I adore texture and I love wines that do not conform – The caveat being that I am not a fan of daft / wacky wines which are created to disrupt. More often than not, they are produced for social media and rarely succeed. For me, JC is a brilliant winemaker with his natural skill for white wines being his ultimate gift. This man can produce bloody amazing wines which are thrilling, sensuous and just outright delicious. The nose is a riot – I actually find myself unable to put the glass down. There’s a touch of oxidation (perfectly acceptable) along with a savoury mélange of hay, wild grass, a milky chalkiness, perhaps a little bruised apple and sweet spice. The palate feel gets my juices flowing – waxy and grippy - my cheeks puckering a little. Savoury, with that fresh grassy character. This is stunningly explosive on the palate. A riot of… Actually, I am struggling to be succinct as there is so much going on. In short, and following a very long tasting note, this is simply a must have. It’s a joy and will be the only wine to serve in the garden this year. Drink now to 2025. Served using Zalto Universal glassware.”

Please note: this bottle does not fit inside our single and double wooden gift boxes.

Winemaker: Sourced from the premium Longest View vineyard in Geelong, the maritime site reflected in a minerality and saltiness which frames the wine. This is a great example of maritime Chardonnay. A warm dry growing season in Geelong. A settled flowering led to good crop levels and vineyards enjoyed an even warm summer which allowed full flavour ripeness whilst still retaining good acidity.”

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is far from reserved and provides a heady and powerful mix of beeswax, oak, soaked oatmeal, fresh vanilla pod, peach and a wonderful floral kick. Freshness arrives in the form of lemon (more verbena than zest). The palate is medium to full-bodied, expansive and not overworked – There’s a natural flow and rhythm from start to finish. The palate is perfectly balanced with a penetrating line of acidity running through the centre.  The texture is silken and flavours ripe, which translates to immediate enjoyment. Stone fruits wash across the palate (nectarine / peach) lifted by minerals and citrus - the way the flavours fan out on the finish is such a joy. The savoury style adds a further level of complexity… Outstanding. Drink now to 2025. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

97+ Points – Magdalena Sienkiewicz "The perfume is so inviting with an abundance of citrus and minerals infused to perfection. The aromas are super pure but intense at the same time (give it a few minutes in the glass). Notes of lemon oil, chalk and oyster shell build up with aeration, together with a lovely touch of nougat, ginger and nashi pear. The flavours follow suit with elegance. It is generous, but equally composed, super smooth and even slightly viscous (amazing texture). No wonder this is the go to wine of team Shadowfax. Sampled using Zalto Bordeaux glassware following 30 minutes of decanting."

96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “60% Pinot Noir / 40% Chardonnay. I like the nose very much as it wafts from my glass with a crescendo of red berries, pomegranate, crisp green apples and chalk. The palate is super fresh and comes across more succulent and fuller compared to the Cuvee Catherine. The mousse is rich and the mid palate weight adds further depth and a lovely mouthfeel. The fruit is fresh and sings with ripe raspberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate and a little bitter orange rind on the long finish… I detect a little chalkiness and salinity too, which brings a welcome distinction to the fruit. The balance is textbook and the structure provides some girth. I like it very much, but I feel the cold, outside temperature and driving rain is playing havoc with my senses (take note to my score!) - the colour and flavours talk to me of the summer and not the deep winter. Unquestionably, this drinks fabulously now, but I would like to see a further five years bottle age. Served using Zalto Universal glassware. Do not overchill.”

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is a dream of cool climate heaven – Stone fruits, grapefruit, a little struck match enveloped in a briny hug. White pepper comes through with more aeration as does ripe peach and mandarin (I suggest decanting for 30 minutes and serve at garage temperature). Sensational aromatics. The palate begins with chewy, pithy grapefruit, flint, chalk, quince, stone fruits, sea spray, with some spice too – sweet spice. The acidity cuts through the palate with laser like precision. I love how the wine uncoils at a pace all of its own. Equally, I respect its individuality. Precise, fine, very memorable and difficult to find fault at this price level. Drinking wonderfully now however, I would love to see another five-or-so years bottle age. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware.”

97+ – 98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “What an explosive and heavenly bouquet filled with candied peel, citrus oil, sea spray, fennel seed and confit lemons. The sweet and alluring scent of jasmine creeps in with more aeration. Take a sip, swallow, sit back and enjoy the complexity. The palate feel is simply glorious, expansive, richly textured, powerful (without being heavy), multi-layered and almost endless. Crystal-like definition kicks in and provides structural finesse along with mouth cleansing acidity (more confit lemon than searing grip). There’s pristine detail on show and the finish goes on for many minutes.  Again, we finish with sea spray, confit lemon and mineralité. In summary, this is perfectly balanced, a joy to drink today but has the structure to evolve for another 6-8 years and delivers waves of textural finesse. Very, very, very good indeed. Do not overchill. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware”.

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “A mere 552 bottles produced which, and save for our small offering, the remainder of his barrel is sold out. The bouquet is fascinating and I am scratching my head to pinpoint the exact aromatics (given the kaleidoscopic range on display). Citrus, yuzu, salt / saline, minerals fall into breathtaking jasmine. Vivid, immaculate and so, so pure… As planned, there is noticeable phenolic grip but the overriding texture glides on a sheet of silk. The flavours range from a delicate floralness, a little green apple, citrus peel, pangs of grapefruit, chalk and a lovely, warming sense of freshly grated ginger which lasts for minutes. The palate feel is outstanding, fresh and beautifully balanced. So vivid and full of energy… This beauty served with a large bowl of fresh west coast langoustine and lemon mayonnaise would be nirvana. Do not overchill. Drink from now to 2028. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

Jaysen Collins - "Being a Barossa guy at heart, I’ve always worked with varieties that fit in this landscape, think Viognier, Marsanne, Riesling, Semillon. So, for the past decade or more I’ve been ageing these broader white varieties on less for nearly a year - I love the texture it builds and the body and character it gives.

I wanted to push this ‘sur lie’ technique a bit further and I needed a variety that would have the balance of acidity and structure that would handle extended lees ageing in barrel. Chardonnay was the obvious choice, and with great vineyard sites in the Adelaide Hills under an hour away, there was no reason not to take a punt and have a go.

For me this example of chardonnay shows a bit of my Barossa breeding, a bit more oxidised, structured and full bodied than the normal hills examples, but the zippy acidity that interplays with toasty lees characters was exactly what I was looking for."

97 points - Sam Kim "Stunning and elegant, this is exquisitely composed and expressed on the nose showing white flesh nectarine, grapefruit, fig and lemon pith characters with nuances of spicy oak and flint. The palate exhibits exceptional concentration and focus, wonderfully enhanced by refined texture and perfectly pitched acidity. It’s splendidly poised and brilliantly structured for a long haul. At its best: 2022 to 2030."

97+ - 98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “This is blessed with such a wonderful bouquet, all pervading with razor sharp accuracy. The nose has developed gloriously, I initially sampled yesterday. Mineralité, limestone, and a little marine influence works wonders with yuzu (there’s a tropical character emerging), orange blossom and heavenly scents of jasmine. Simply amazing! The palate provides saline on the entry, bottomless layers of minerals, citrus with razor sharp acidity. The defining act being the balletic balance which is a marvel. Minutes later, traces of warming, fresh ginger, fennel and lime zest creep in. Extraordinary length. This is a magnificent wine and one which offers astonishing value. Do not overchill and decant for an hour. Drink now to 2030. I believe this will be hitting its full stride in 5 years. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

Sampled 22 July 2021. Stuart McCloskey “Team Gemtree have nailed the description for the bouquet - Nashi pear, apple and fresh citrus aromas unfurl with such grace and poise. I also detect delicate floral notes that linger. Composed from Savagnin and Chardonnay and plucked at the perfect instant of ripeness (I stole this from Mike’s description!). The wine shows outstanding clarity – I enjoy the mineral-tinged character. The palate follows a similar vein with gentle citrus and orchard fruit characters (the faintest appearance of honeysuckle) unfolding at a gentle pace. The fruit is underpinned by chalky minerals, which give the wine an impression of smoothness / chalky creaminess if that makes sense. Spritz and vitality is evident, but I am left with a sense of calmness rather than verve. I especially like the way the wine evolves in the glass. Lovely clarity and balance - I can see myself enjoying the entire bottle in the garden along with a dozen Scottish langoustines. Drink now to 2023. Served using Zalto Universal glassware.”

Please note: this bottle does not fit inside our single and double wooden gift boxes.

97 Points – Erin Brooks (RobertParker.com) “The 2019 Chardonnay Arthur is pure, precise and extraordinarily pretty this vintage, with expressive key lime, pencil lead and saline aromas, plus wafts of spring flowers and beeswax. The stunning palate combines creamy texture and fresh tang, gently honeyed fruits and citrusy uplift, which make for a very long, energetic finish. It's the best iteration of the Arthur cuvée I've tried.”

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet unfurls at its own pace and rushes for no one… With time, crisp orchard fruits, citrus oil, oyster shell, wet stones and the faintest whiff of smoke develop. The palate provides copious layers of soothing fruit infused with minerals. The wine feels tightly-knit (built for the long haul) and incredibly long – intense mineral finish with warming anise and saline. Impeccably balanced and wonderfully complete. This is quite a remarkable Chardonnay and one which has just started its journey. Clearly a different style to the Malmsbury, but equally compelling, nonetheless. I would love to see this served against, young Grand Cru Burgundy. Drink now to 2031. Best from 2025 onwards. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

97-98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is penetrating, precise, and certainly descends from a cool, maritime climate. Scents of lemon, mineral, sea spray and jasmine graciously unfurl from the glass. With time, the aromatics intensify and quite considerably (see my footnote regarding temperature and decanting). The palate is incredibly complex, regal and struts its stuff with such confidence, all the while highlighting its self-control. Tightly coiled but balanced perfectly with a satiny stream of citrus and minerals. The saline note on the long finish is lovely. There’s beautiful weight to the wine and it cradles your palate with an admirable suspense. A very, very fine Chardonnay which would benefit from five or so years in the bottle and will fan-out gloriously over a decade or more. Served with Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Do not serve from the fridge. Decant for a wee while as this wine needs a little aeration.”

98 Points – Stuart McCloskey “Pristine would be an understatement for the bouquet – Wow! Additionally, unravelling this is challenging. Where to start? Salted, confit lemon, the minerality is piercing, a smoked edge with a further undercurrent of saline, softened by a chalkiness – almost Albariño in its appeal. Orchard fruits emerge with more aeration as does tangerine peel and the wonderfully heady scents of sweet jasmine. Fennel too. The nose is bristling with complexity and energy, and it’s just starting its journey. The palate is loaded with Meyer lemon juxtaposed beautifully with a floral lift. I detect a touch of smoked almond and streaks of minerals – everything feels kissed with a covering of salty sea spray, which is delectable. Who would have thought Tasmania? Very Mediterranean in my opinion… We often talk of ‘tension’ – welcome to a perfect example.  The acid profile feels perky – the palate feels sumptuous and poised. Genuinely, an extraordinary Chardonnay and one of the most intriguing Aussie / Tassie Chardonnays I have sampled in a very long time… Drink now to 2030. Do not kill the flavour by overchilling – give it the respect it deserves. Serve using Zalto Bordeaux glassware… A blend of Tamar Valley, East Coast and Derwent Valley fruit (exact proportions unknown).”

Gary Walsh (The Wine Front) "A blend of Tamar Valley, East Coast & Derwent Valley fruit. Well, this wine is, including a full laser show. Lemon rind, bread dough, wheatgerm, aniseed, cinnamon and white peach. Intense, precise, so much crunch and energy, chalk dust, green olive and brine, searing long finish. Drink while wearing sunglasses, and little else. That’s how pure and cool it is."

97++ - 98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Like the ‘South’ the bouquet speaks of its birthplace but with a little more concentration. Lemon oil, lemon thyme, licks of wet stone, sea salt and take a walk past Jasmine to really appreciate the floral aromatics. The palate is a touch waxier in style / weightier and offers more immediate enjoyment. That tell-tale salinity is such an attractive quality and works a treat with the fresh zip of citrus, flint and razor-sharp acidity. Extremely elegant and judged perfectly. This is just a beautiful, crystalline Tassie Chardonnay which will be amazing in five or so years. Served with Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Do not serve from the fridge. Decant for a wee while as this wine needs a little aeration.”

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey  "The most floral bouquet of the three, with buttered citrus and fresh vanilla seeds drifting from the glass. Still, and not to bore, lemons, minerals and salinity are also present.. The palate offers an intense experience and not necessarily through flavour as the vitality and tension offers a wonderful shrill of excitement. The balance is exquisite and, given its age, it is difficult to pin-down exact flavours save for a little crisp, green apple. So much energy and tightly coiled like a piston waiting to explode. Minerals and citrus contrast with a marine-influenced finish which I love. Truly outstanding and will be hitting its stride in five or so years. Potentially perfect in ten. Served with Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Do not serve from the fridge. Decant for a wee while as this wine needs a little aeration.”

97+ - 98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “This is a serious step up from Floris, as you would expect. I will be truthful and declare that all three bottles (since arriving in the UK last week) have been significantly more enjoyable than our sample bottle pre-Christmas 2020 (I will add that we purchased 360 bottles from our first sample!) At first, the bouquet provides a nostalgic twist of popcorn which dissipates with a little aeration. We move onto a nutty savouriness - toasty, a touch tropical (more caramelised). Savoury transitions to Yuzu and sea spray which in turn moves onto a delicate floral character. I detect a little bitter orange peel on the finish – I could be wrong? The flavours are built around perfect structure with everything being aligned and unforced. The fruit sides with citrus – lemon, Yuzu and lime with delicate oak spices providing a point of difference. The palate feel is luxurious, ripe but far from being overripe. There’s an honest purity to the feel and flavours. Citrus clean acidity and minerally fruit. Ambitious, but keeping one hand on the Margaret River style. That said, I am pleased to see a move away from some of the more ‘slender’ examples. Wonderfully bright, balanced and dances on the palate with mouth-watering acidity and a dusting of spices… Extremely long and will provide ten years of cellaring. This will be fascinating in five (note to keep a few cases back). Decant for 20-30 minutes. Do not overchill. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Of late, I have been sampling a few English sparkling wines. In particular, ones which have been left on the lees for an extended time and recently disgorged. It’s been a mixed bag with a few shockers and a few which I enjoyed however, and compared to this Tassie example, they pale into significance when you compare the flavour to price ratio. The bouquet is magnificent and leads you down a heady path of buttered poached apples and pears, classic brioche, buttered citrus, creamy macadamia, honey, tinges of beurre noisette, lemon thyme, and a yeasty autolysis character. All-in-all, the bouquet is sublime. The palate is mid-weight, there’s a lovely nutty-buttery richness followed by a beautiful line of citrus acidity. Poached orchard fruits aplenty macerated with honey and a little sweet spice. This is ripe, effortless and layered. The finish is wonderfully long and fans out beautifully to orange zest and nuts. Undoubtedly, this is on-par with many NV Grand Cuvées (two-three times the money). My room is filled with an intoxicating perfume of honey roasted nuts and sweet brioche. I believe it’s in its prime drinking window but will age for at least another 5-10 years… Served using Zalto Universal glassware (do not use a Champagne flute as it will stifle the bouquet and flavour).”

95 Points - James Halliday "A smart chardonnay that distances itself from fruit-driven, ultra-clean styles, preferring a more complex restraint. Aromas of lemon, fig and rockpool are subdued. Texture plays a big role here too, so there's tart citrus acidity and pithy grapefruit, lemon zest and green apple. A slow burn of flavour build-up and length. Give it time."

95 Points - James Halliday "Another interesting study in structure – and the relationship between texture and acidity – from Mulline winemaker Ben Mullen. Quite a philosophical question to ponder as you delve into this chardonnay, juicy and crisp in nectarine, white peach, grapefruit and quince. Good line and length on the palate, courtesy of rapier-like acidity. Taut but plenty of flavour in reserve."

Hell Freezes Over is a Chardonnay from single vineyard in Ashton, Adelaide Hills. “This is what happens when an old mate rings you out of the blue and tells you he owns one of the best vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, and would I take a look – 30 year old vines of the Gin Gin clone on a steep westerly slope based on sandy loam over sandstone at the superior Ashton end of Piccadilly Valley. After years of saying ‘We’ll make a Chardonnay when Hell Freezes Over’… well here you have it and it’s delicious” Michael Twelftree

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey - “A very stylish / highly accomplished wine. Super-neat and tidy. The nose develops with aeration (my advice is not to serve it too cold) with pear, citrus oil and an entire array of white flowers – just a little spice in the background from a rasp of fresh nutmeg. The palate is gloriously fine, satiny in texture and provides layers of lip-smacking citrus along with waves of minerals - salinity / sea spray on the super-long, expansive finish. More tightly wound than the previous two releases which is by no means a negative. The ’19 is a superb effort that will reward time in your cellar (up to ten years). For best results, tuck it away for a year or two as this will allow some of the tension to relax. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware”

97-98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is explosive but does require a little aeration (30 minutes in a decanter will do the job nicely). Lemon oil, citrus, limestone and chalk aplenty – it’s so fresh and taut (the zippy acidity really crackles), which are all terroir indicators referencing this wine’s elevated (550m) site in the Macedon Ranges. The palate feel, fruit, structure and acidity are all in harmonious chorus. Similar to the bouquet, the palate strides forward with citrus in abundance – almost lip smacking. The texture is deeply satisfying with satiny ribbons of lemon curd and Yuzu. The vineyard was planted back in 1993 which aids the wine’s tremendous concentration. The finish is racy and super long… A wonderful Chardonnay that speaks of its surroundings. One for the cellar and I very much look forward to revisiting the wine over the coming years. Drink now to 2035. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

 * Every purchase of 6 bottles will include the original wooden case *

97+ - 98 Points – Stuart McCloskey “There are some wines which look so sexy in a glass – the gloss and clarity is remarkable (perfect viscosity too). Wonderfully classical – the bouquet and palate flow to the same tune of yellow stone fruits, salty lemon, yuzu, there’s a distinct lemon sherbet-like feel, spring flowers, minerals and a creamy chalkiness. Medium-bodied and showing serious pedigree. Tightly wrapped, racy, balanced to perfection and almost perfect which is daft to declare for such a young wine. This screams Margaret River, and is a faultless example of a varietal Chardonnay. This is, in short, a truly spectacular wine and joins the list of epic ‘new’ releases from Australia. Drinking now to 2030+. Please keep a few bottles for ten years as this (I believe) will be its highpoint. Do not overchill and I advise to decant and serve using Zalto’s Bordeaux glassware.”

  2021 Best Chardonnay Wines - Wine Companion Awards

98 points - James Halliday "Planted on a east-facing terraced hill slope. It's quite certain the wine was barrel-fermented with a percentage of new French oak, but it's been soaked up by the fruit. It's an intricately polished wine, the fruit/oak/acid balance sheer perfection, its longevity impossible to guess."

95 Points - Campbell Mattinson "Fabulous chardonnay. The cup runneth over. Slick, spritely, satiny and sustained. There’s flavour, there’s finesse, there’s a flourish to the finish. Lemon, lime, a sorbet-like aspect, nectarine and white peach, with a classy clip of spicy-sweet cedarwood oak. There’s almost a bacony aspect here, a smoked meat note, rosemary even, though it’s exquisitely pure of fruit. Potential for positive development is huge."

98+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “In the late summer, team Stolpman pull every leaf away from the fruit to allow for full sun penetration.  A month prior to harvest, when the sun exposed side of each cluster, tans, but the inside remains green, every grape cluster is gently hand rotated 180 degrees to facilitate an even suntan. The focus, determination and attention to detail provides one of the best new world Roussannes, in my opinion. Spiced pear, apple, buttered citrus, tangerine skin, orange blossom and honey unfold majestically from the glass. There’s theatre with golden hues, whilst the viscous intensity grips the side of my glass with all its life. The palate is concentrated, full bodied with waves of honey and buttered fruits covering every facet. There’s a spiciness (fresh ginger) which gently starts at the tip of my tongue and continues to lay a path of warmth all the way back. Intensity is the core of this wine, with minerality and acidity providing some welcome relief. With time, honeysuckle and peach emerge, but so too does the spiciness, which I love. Emphatically long; never-ending to be perfectly honest and will continue to provide an extraordinary wine experience for many years to come. Do not overchill. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Time in the glass is the great benefactor (mine was left for an hour) resulting in a bouquet that blossoms and comes alive with buttered lemon, citrus peel, quartz, salty sea spray and chalk – vibrant and captivating. The palate delivers wave after wave of seductive buttered citrus fruit underpinned with razor sharp acidity. The density and palate feel are truly remarkable for such a young wine. I fear you would miss the amplitude, sheen, depth and glossiness if poured straight from the fridge (word to the wise). Yet another suave, seamless and immensely pleasing wine which will only get better over the next 10+ years. For Burgundy purists or those seeking something special, but do not want to part with £100 – this is the one for you. Compelling drinking. Decant for an hour and serve using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

97+ - 98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Buttered popcorn vies with flinty characters, which effortlessly slip to white toast, yeasty bread, cashew, nutty nougat and camomile. There’s a sense of savouriness over fruit, save for the confit lemon and pear. The palate is glossy, bordering viscous without any sense of heaviness. Complex and in a fascinating savoury style. Lemon buttered toast, nutty (creamed cashew), camomile, baked apple and crème pat? Floral – really, quite extraordinary. The length is mindbogglingly long, spicy and goes on for minute after minute. This is an ambitious creation and very different to many Aussie Chardonnays.  Utterly captivating. Acidity is delivered thoughtfully along with a sense and feel of salinity. This is a marvellous expression of Australian Chardonnay. Unique without trying to be. Sculpted without effort. Precise without being measly. Mesmerising, it’s as simple as that. Decant for 30 minutes and do not overchill. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2030 and possibly beyond.” 

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “By chance, the final wine is, once again, dialled-up on the aromatic front. Spiced, biscuit (ginger biscuit) concentration with a taught line of confit lemon – the bouquet comes across incredibly fresh. Lime zest is a joy, as is the lemongrass. The palate intrigues with an intellectual battle between leanness and power, with neither emerging as the winner. Lots of minerals on show, quartz galore and all the better for it. Steel – cold steel which adds to the intrigue. Nice grip too. The finish is ultra-pure, packed with saline minerality and epically long. As they say in the trade, the flavours fan out like a peacock’s tail (and it is a bloody big tail). Intensely juicy. Simply, fabulous. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Not decanted and will drink now to 2025.”

Gary Walsh (The Wine Front) "Australia’s leading authority on Chardonnay north of 2065, Prof. John Humphrey, has been applying firm but fair pressure on me to get these wines reviewed. Let’s see if I get it right. Matchstick, ginger biscuits, lime and white peach, kiss of vanilla oak, and white flowers. It’s cool, refined, distinctly pure and minerally, not a huge amount of flavour, though what’s there is very appealing. Fine flinty texture, oatmeal and slightly toasty savoury things on a long lemon water-coloured finish. Beautiful thing. Diaphanous. High appeal on the glass to glass measure, but also delight in refinement and style."

95 Points - James Halliday "Poise and power in equal measure. Balanced flavours of white stone fruit sprinkled with lemon zest, ginger and oak spices. Finely tuned across the palate with texture from the lees influence, but still strikingly fine from its acidity."

Gary Walsh (The Wine Front) "A very good Chardonnay out of Butcher’s this year. As fit as a butcher’s dog, you might say. Smooth, composed, light in flavour, cool and savoury, white fruit and citrus flecked with exotic spice and aniseed, quartz-y texture, a little lemon rind in the long fresh finish. Texture is a highlight. So very elegant and adult. So nice."

The 2018 vintage had a slightly warmer than average year, this led to the richness that Butcher’s Hill is known for, however there were no heat spikes through the ripening period that allowed slow and even fruit development. The resulting wine is reminiscent of Grand Cru Chablis with a great deal of energy, tension and vitality. Partial malolactic fermentation (around 50%) allows the wine to combine and create complexity throughout the palate and the use of larger oak barrels (one third new) allows the penetration of ripe stone fruit and floral notes through the grapefruit acidity lingering with a long flinty finish.

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “ ‘What’s the difference?’ I hear you say. Actually, and if you take the time, rather a lot. However, in a sniff test, I would love to see the Fire Gully served blind alongside the Pierro as the similarities are aligned, or are they? The immediate citrus impact and taut freshness brings the two wines together however, and with a little of one’s own poise, the Pierro provides multiple layers of depth which its sibling lacks. Each note is ramped-up – from the lemon (more confit than citrus), I detect sage, ripe pear, camomile, there’s a profusion of white flowers, the minerals feel charged and deep set. Citrus falls to a savouriness – the aromatics linger for minutes. This is a very beautiful Chardonnay and world-class… The palate exudes a gracefulness – the texture and mouthfeel is like silk. Again, confit lemon, quartz, slate, a little splash of saline with white pepper after a minute. Despite its finesse, the flavour builds rather than falls away. This is extraordinary. This has a personality all of its own. You can tell the winemakers all help to shape the wine along with the Margaret River terroir. Wonderful energy albeit at its own pace – this isn’t rushing for anybody. Effortless and beguiling and one of the best 2019 Margaret River Chardonnays on the market. Do not overchill. Decant for 30-minutes. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2031+.”

95 Points - Antonio Galloni "Varner's Chardonnay Amphitheater Block is rich, ample and super-expressive. Lemon peel, almonds, chamomile, earthiness, dried apricot and sage meld together effortlessly. The 2013 Amphitheater is a classic Varner Chardonnay built on phenolic intensity and plenty of savory/floral notes that add nuance, while the fruit is pushed a bit into the background."

93 Points - Antonio Galloni "The 2014 Chardonnay Amphitheater Block wraps around the palate with striking depth. Creamy, ample and expressive, the Amphitheater is all about texture. Orange peel, mint, graphite, candied lemon and sweet floral notes abound in this deeply nuanced Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. There is a lot to like here."