The Heemskerk Chardonnay displays an elegant cool-climate style with a brilliant pale golden color and enticing aromas of white peach, nectarine, lemon zest, toasted almonds and brioche. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied with a creamy texture balanced by bright acidity. Flavors of ripe stone fruits, citrus and a hint of struck match are complemented by nuances of grilled nuts and a saline minerality characteristic of the Coal River Valley. The wine strikes a beautiful balance between rich fruit flavors, subtle oak influence, and a vibrant acid backbone, resulting in a complex and age-worthy expression of Tasmanian Chardonnay.

The aspiration of Oakridge LVS -- or Local Vineyard Series -- wines is to be outstanding expressions of single vineyards within the Yarra Valley. Local Vineyard Series wines enable wine lovers to compare and contrast the power of terroir and geography in winemaking. In essence, different grape varieties thrive in different soils, and Yarra Valley terroirs and altitudes vary widely. Oakridges expertise and understanding of the region allows viticulturists and winemakers to match a particular variety with a particular site -- with marvellous results. Almost all LVS wines are cellarworthy. The Willowlake Vineyard is just outside Gladysdale in Victorias Upper Yarra Valley. Planted in 1979 at an elevation 300 metres, the cool-grown Chardonnay here ranks with the regions very best. Add the skills of leading Chardonnay exponent David Bicknell and these hand-picked grapes become wines that express their variety and origin with consummate precision and flair.

PIERRE-YVES COLIN-MOREY, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune blanc

With winter rains, healthy and wholesome grapevines protruded out of the soil at the Jansz vineyard. Grapes were picked from a single block in the vineyard, the whole bunch pressed, and fermented and aged in French oak barriques with more than five years on lees. This extensive winemaking procedure resulted in the creation of an elegant Chardonnay wine displaying pale gold colours with an exceptional bead. The lifted bouquet gives out scents of truffles, oyster shells and preserved lemons coupled with underlying nuances of honey nougat and Amaretti biscuits. The complex and intense palate is an amalgam of brioche, roast almond nougat and crystallised lemon nuances that balance the chalky minerality and creamy texture of the wine to provide a refreshing and lengthy climax. The wine possesses an alcohol content of 12% and is a great pairing with whole baked snapper with ginger and citrus.

RIPOSTE BY TIM KNAPPSTEIN The Katana Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

A fine-boned Chardonnay that reflects vintage conditions and the character of a unique vineyard site purchased by Shaw + Smith in 2012. Inaugural vintage: 2014. Planted in 1999, the vineyard has east and west facing aspects and reaches 500 meters above sea level. The soil is brown loam over clay with some broken shale and stone on the ridges. The wine is100% hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented and matured on lees in 500-litre French oak puncheons (30% new) for 9 months.