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The cool climate of the ACTs Canberra District is the perfect place to grow and produce quality Chardonnay and Lerida Estate Lake George Chardonnay is a fine example. Picked early to maintain its distinctive freshness and elegance, this delicious white has a vibrant aroma of quince, nectarine and orange zest with a hint of cashew. The palate demonstrates tangy white stone fruit and grapefruit characters with a subtle mineral undertone that adds complexity. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 11 months with regular lees stirring in French oak, this is a classic, definitive Chardonnay.

Delicate and gentle notes of cooler climate fruits fill the nose; wet stones, chalk, fine citrus zest and orange blossom. The palate is lissom and has a mineral water like weight as citrus fruits mingle with toasted nut-meal and caramel. A fine and soft acidity retains levity and gives length and crispness to finish this Chardonnay by Marchand and Burch.

Forrest Estate now have vineyards in premium Otago and Gimlett Gravels but grapes for Field of Stones Sauvignon are pure Marlborough, grown on the very stony soil adjacent to the Forrest winery, hence the name ‘Field of Stones’. The fruit is harvested in the cool of the night and early morning to maximise the mineral freshness and the lemon thyme, elderflower and guava flavours. Bring on the seafood platter!

A rather hedonistic nose suggests ripe pears, fresh peach and oatmeal while the palate is taught and chalky with nectarine, pear and iodine notes and a driven freshness. Unmistakably Marlborough for its cleansing hit of salty goodness, this is harmonious, balanced and dry. Established in 2011, Corofin is the new home for ex-Jackson Estate winesmith Mike Paterson and his partner Anna, until recently GM at TerraVin. At this early juncture, while Mike is contracted to another project and Anna busy raising the couples two young daughters, Corofin craft two (soon to be three) single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, each in tiny 100-150-case lots. You can read about two of these pretty special Marlborough sites below (the third being the Weavers Waihopi Slopes at Churton). Not too far down the line well see a little Chardonnay as well. For the time being the wines are made out of temporary digs at Fromm. Having spent the majority of their working years in and about Marlborough, Mike and Anna have no doubt regarding the potential of their adopted region, and were well placed to approach their first choice of vineyards. Indeed, Patersons selection of sites reflects both a winemakers enthusiasm for Marlboroughs Southern Valley hillside vineyards plus the dedication of certain grape growers whose vineyards he believes act as a beacon of Marlborough individuality. Not by accident do these growers focus on organic and/or biodynamic principles. In addition, Patersons artisanal approach in the winery does the necessary justice to each site; hand-harvesting and sorting, whole berry/cluster ferments, fermentation with indigenous yeast, no fining nor filtration and zero new wood, with the wines raised in 2-4 year old barrels. In a region where for much of the time money talks and terroir walks, Corofins 2013s show that great, singular terroir is thriving in Marlborough (a cliché that has sometimes hit troubled waters in its journey across the ditch). Paterson goes one step further in demonstrating that precocious, ripe Marlborough Pinot can be made without confected fruit, nor winemaking artefactPatersons are beautifully aromatic, detailed and sculpted Pinot Noir, which combine the best of all worlds: finesse, freshness, terroir transparency. We can already tell you hes got a similar way with Chardonnay. The wines have the aromatic prowess and elegant texture that will appeal to Burgundy fanatics, but also youthful generosity and reasonable price tag; qualities all Pinot lovers can get behind. In short, were delighted to be working with this talented and classy young project.

Complex and enticing grapefruit, citrus and white peach characters are complemented by struck-flint, spice and vanilla. In the glass the wine is loaded with texture. Stone fruit and citrus are underpinned by a flinty mineral flavour and toasty complexity. The Bouldevines Vineyard is located at the entrance to the Omaka Valley, inland from the coast. This vineyard sits in the Southern Valleys, with soils that are stony, alluvial, and free draining. The inland location is cooler, allowing the Chardonnay grapes to achieve optimum ripeness and expressive fruit flavour, while retaining vibrant acidity.

From the ever impressive Yering Station, this Chardonnay offers toasty barrel ferment characters, good supporting oak and ripe peach aromas leading to a textured and well rounded palate. One of the better value examples out there.

An elegant, vibrant and fragrant nose with lemon, lime and pear in the foreground. Notes of peach blossom and subtle jasmine create lift and combines with cardamom pod, almond meal and roasted cashew. The palate has immense purity, with power and persistence. Lime and lemon pith define the palate, which carries through to a delicately layered middle, threaded with a fine mineral spine. Sesame seed and blanched almonds enhance complexity, finishing with a sparkling acid structure. This wine has energy in its youth, and will build texture with cellaring.

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]

The Third Generation series is a modern style Chardonnay, Robert Stein Winery has crafted with the exceptional fruits from Mudgee to create this great expression of the vineyard and regional characteristics in a bottle. With the aromas of grapefruit, peach and citrus, fermentation was 80% in stainless steel tank with high lees contact. The remainder time in older oak undergoing partial Malolactic Fermentation with wild yeast, which adds diversity and complexity to the finish.