As Australian Chardonnay continues its re-emergence, Vasse Felix Heytesbury is firmly leading the charge with its complex, modern style that has seen the winemaking team take home a cabinet full of trophies and gold medals in recent years. 100% wild yeast fermented and matured in French oak for only nine months, there is a power and persistence that is unmistakable. A flavour cavalcade of matchstick, citrus, white peach and grapefruit alongside a subtle toasty, nutty aspect from the sublime oak regime. The finish of this remarkable example will leave you in no doubt to this wines pedigree and ageability. Sheer classic.

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?

Margaret River is a world renowned Chardonnay producing region and Pierro can rightfully stake a claim as to why. Incredibly complex, it is a tangle of fine-boned acid, lees complexity, pristine fruit and the most detailed use of good quality oak. Extremely enjoyable now, but will benefit from short to medium term cellaring.

The Tate family are one of the most famous wine names in Western Australia, especially in Margaret River. It was the Tate family who began Evans & Tate decades ago and today the Tate name is re-born under the Franklin Tate Estates label. Franklin, son of John, has sourced some of the most prestigious vineyard sites in Margaret River and has highly regarded winemaker Rory Clifton-Parks to hand-craft the quality wines, like this traditional Chardonnay.

The Kevin John Chardonnay is Cullens flagship white from their biodynamic vineyards. A refined and elegant style brimming with white peach and citrus, showing bakery nutty complexity and deft oak integration. The wine is named in honour of Vanya Cullens father, the late Kevin John Cullen. Grapes are harvested on a flower or fruit day and whole-bunch pressed to obtain the highest quality juice. It is then barrel fermented with native yeasts in French oak barriques and matured for approximately 7 months in one- third new and two-thirds seasoned oak barrels.

This excellent expression of Chardonnay, partly due to only limited time in oak, is light, fresh and zesty but with inherent complexity. Pale straw in colour, this wine exhibits lifted nectarine and white blossom characters with underlying minerality and depth. The palate is clean and lively with tremendous depth of ripe stone-fruit flavour nuanced by cashew notes. A refreshing backbone of natural grape acidity provides further structure and length.

This enticing Credaro Kinship Chardonnay features a pale straw colour with bright green highlights lurking throughout. The attractive bouquet exudes scents of cashew, citrus, pear, nectarine and white flowers. The palate is soft and medium to full bodied, containing fresh citrus and stone fruit flavours supported by creamy biscuit undertones. These fruit elements integrate with a fine layer of mineral acidity to provide an elegant structure and a captivating climax. With a cellaring potential of 3 to 5 years, this delightful Chardonnay pairs best with vegetable terrines, steamed fish and pastas.

One of the best value Margaret River Chardonnays out there. Michael Kerrigan is doing an amazing job producing Chardonnays of elegance. Hay Shed Hill has delicate grapefruit and stone fruit flavours on the palate. And these flavours are matched with fine, minerally acidity with suble oak towards the finish.

From the Howard Park stable comes this impressive Chardonnay sourced from Margaret River fruit. The Gold Turtle displays opulent honeyed peach flavours with a beguiling texture that lingers on the the palate for what seems like an eternity. A perfect match to Asian Fusion cuisine as well as being more than at home when enjoyed on its own.

Devil's Lair The Hidden Cave collection was created to showcase the daring and innovative approach to Margaret River winemaking. Oliver Crawford hits the mark beautifully with this Chardonnay that is bursting with Granny Smith apple aromas. In the mouth the wine is a cascading behemoth of white peach and rich nougat.