Occasionally, when rare parcels of particularly outstanding Beechworth grapes become available, Savaterre's wine maker Keppell Smith likes to create something unique, like this Chardonnay, and bottle it under Savaterre's Frere Cadet (Younger Brother) label. These wines are created with the same attention to detail that goes into their premium Savaterre label.

Pōtiki, meaning ‘last born’ in Maori, is blended from a selection of newer plantings and some of our more established blocks on the Martinborough Terrace. Barrel fermented in 300 litre puncheons with indigenous yeasts, followed by 11 months on lees to bring a subtle complexity. The 2022 has an expressive, floral, and delicate fruit driven nose of white peach, rock melon and orange blossom. The palate has a refined mineral entry, with hints of salinity. It opens further with notes of citrus and fennel and flavours of pastry and almond. Beautifully balanced on the palate, this wine is fresh and joyous, combining cool fruit notes with fine acidity.

Sourced from dry-grown, hand tended vines in the north east of Victoria, this Beechworth Chardonnay from Savaterre will surely convince even the most hardened Chardonnay critic that modern Australian Chardonnay is of supreme world-class standard. Keppell Smith handcrafts a Chardonnay of utmost power and concentration that produces a length of flavour that borders on the immortal.

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.

McHenry Hohnen is the quintessential family owned business with Murry McHenry and David Hohnen being brothers-in-law and the winemaking now being handled by David's son-in-law Ryan Walsh. With decades of Western Australian winemaking and selling history behind David and Murray the wines being produced are of utmost purity and subtlety. The Burnside Chardonnay is a relative recent addition to the range and is a funky, wild little number with attractive stone fruit characters that are balanced by a beautiful natural acidity.

This winery retains its cult status by continually producing wines of poise, class and adhering to strict biodynamic principals. The Bannockburn Chardonnay is at this stage pert and linear, with floral and citrus notes. It will take a little time for this little gem to begin to give up its secrets.