The odds are you will rarely, if ever, taste a line-up of Australian Chardonnay like this.
16 of our country’s most revered producers. One extraordinary vintage; 2023.
Cherubino | Cullen | Deep Woods | Flametree | Giaconda | Giant Steps | McHenry Hohnen | Moss Wood | Mount Mary | Penfolds | Pierro | Redbrook Estate | Stella Bella | Tolpuddle | Vasse Felix | Xanadu
Across the 16 Chardonnays, accolades include:
White Wine of the Year and Chardonnay of the Year - 2026 Halliday Wine Companion
White Wine of the Year and Chardonnay of the Year - Ray Jordan 2026 WA Wine Review
Ray Jordan’s ‘White Wine of the Year’ 2025
Australian White Wine of the Year 2025 - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
National Wine Show 2025 – Best Chardonnay
Trophy Winner -Best Chardonnay 2024 Western Australia Wine Show
Trophy Winner - Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Trophy Winner - Best White Wine - 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Trophy Winner - Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Hobart Wine Show
Gold Medal - 2024 International Wine & Spirits Awards
Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling Top 100 Wines Australia 2024
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Saturday December 27
Hosted By John Jens
Tasting:
3:00pm-5:00pm, 16 of Australia’s Great Chardonnays from the 2023 Vintage + Delicious ‘Help yourself’ Cheese Platters
Tickets: $250.00
The Wine List
2023 Cherubino Pemberton Chardonnay
The 2023 Pemberton Chardonnay is tightly wound—coiled like a spring. The wine is mineral and yet fleshy, with a core of lemongrass and brine. Orchard fruits carry the weight of the wine across the palate, and while this is profoundly promising, the wine currently is closed. It feels to me to be intensely exciting and declares a long future. Highly recommended.
95 Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
Bright, light-mid yellow colour. Intense aromas of cashew nut, creamy lees and citrusy fruit. Grapefruit and lemon. Quality oak shows clearly but not obtrusively. In the mouth it's very intense with a piercing impact. There's an impression of sweetness on the middle-palate which is probably just rich ripe fruit, the finish cleansing and dry with a lick of phenolics helping to firm and refresh the long follow-through. Excellent: a chardonnay with finesse.
95 Points, Huon Hooke, therealreview.com.au
2023 Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay Legacy Series
Great vintage, great wine. It’s the perfect combination. This is right up there with any previous Cullen chardonnay, and if someone argued it to be the best I wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Follows the Cullen biodynamic approach which sees the fruit harvested by hand, whole bunch basket pressed and then fermented in a mix of concrete eggs, amphorae and biodynamic puncheons. The attention to biodynamics is one of total commitment. Engaging aromas of white peach and cumquat with a gentle vanilla bean and lemon curd character. An edge of grapefruit and quince with a sliced pear character adds further complexity. The palate is an incredibly powerful expression of a stone fruit combination complemented by a sprinkle of turmeric and lemon zest. The dry savoury and slightly chalky finish completes a remarkable wine. Where does it sit in the Cullen gallery? You be the judge.
99 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Deep Woods Reserve Chardonnay
Trophy - Best Chardonnay - 2025 National Wine Show
Trophy - Best White Wine - 2025 National Wine Show
Trophy - Best White Wine - 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Trophy - Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Trophy - Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Hobart Wine Show
Trophy - Best Western Australian Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Let’s cut to the chase. The finest Deep Woods chardonnay yet. It has it all. Great fruit has been harnessed with whole bunch pressing and fermentation in new and seasoned French oak. Further lees stirring has built in texture, contributing to a thoroughly beautiful, refined mouth feel. Opens with stone fruit and savoury light lemon curd aromas. Peels off into a palate that reveals more of a struck match and cracked seashell minerality complementing the outstanding fruit concentration. Super wine.
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
Inviting aromas of lemon curd, lime cordial, and grapefruit, accented by delicate hints of flint and aniseed. The sophisticated palate boasts a generous medley of ripe stone fruits and tangy citrus, underscored by a nuanced smokiness and a delightful texture.
97 Points and Gold Medal Winner, IWSC 2025
2023 Flametree SRS Chardonnay
Trophy - Best Chardonnay Margaret River Wine Show 2024
Trophy - Best White Wine Margaret River Wine Show 2024
Trophy - Best Chardonnay Wine Show of WA 2024
Trophy - Best White Wine, Wine Show of WA 2024
Trophy - Best Wine, Wine Show of WA 2024
This chardonnay comes from the Wallcliffe area within Margaret River. The fruit from this season was excellent, but then Cliff Royle has harnessed it perfectly creating a wine of tremendous power, yet at the same time subtlety and elegance. Slight struck match flinty characters on the nose merge with deeper notes of lemon curd and quince with a slightly oyster shell finish. As good as anything Flametree have made.
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
Pale lemon yellow colour. Grapefruit, lemon zest, grilled peach, smoky matchstick and hazelnut complexities leap from the glass. Palate sings with that same enthusiasm: there’s layers upon layers, a base note of grapefruit has smoky notes and subtle nutty nuances all running across it with bright acidity and a hint of grip that ensures drive and control of the powerful intensity on show. It flows incredibly long, remaining integrated and poised right to the finish, when it eventually arrives
98 Points, Stuart Knox, therealreview.com.au
2023 Giaconda Chardonnay
The 2023 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay leads with an abundance of smoky, nutty, savory reduction. Here, the 2023 feels less exotic and softly spoken than the 2022 tasted alongside, with the 2023 showing more tension and focus. Neither has the extraordinary, otherworldly character of the 2021, also tasted alongside, yet the differences between the three is almost as exciting as having three vintages of Giaconda Chardonnay open at the same time. The 2023 only gets better the longer it is opened, revealing white peach, curry leaf, pink grapefruit acidity, blood orange, coffee grounds, graphite and mustard seeds. What a wine. The sheer intensity of flavor here is astonishing—it penetrates the palate and soars long into the memory. Far from pinching the finish, the reduction provokes a physical response, one that requires more drinking to satiate.
98+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
In challenging Victorian vintages like '23 – cool and wet – the cream rises, quality producers standing up. At Giaconda, we see another stunner of a chardonnay released, a classic work of art that delivers a bouquet of citrus blossom scents with intense Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith, preserved lemon, white peach, nectarine and crushed stone. Has real presence and an immediate sense of concentration. The longer it remains open, the more it reveals, an ongoing treat of complexity in nectarine, peach, toasted almond and gentle spice with a stunning lemon butter-like richness and more, edged in finely laced acidity. Exquisite.
98 Points, Jeni Port, winecompanion.com.au
2023 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard
Australian White Wine of the Year 2025 - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
Light bright yellow in the glass with creamy pastry, spiced nectarine and lemon aromas and flavours, the palate intense and compact, tightly focused and long, with pencilly/cedary and lemon butter flavours of great energy and vitality, lingering long on the aftertaste. Refreshing acidity. Superb now, even better with a bit more age on it.
98 Points, Huon Hooke, the realreview.com.au
2023 McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Chardonnay
The vineyard stamps its character on this from the get-go. Notes of lemon scents with lightly roasted cashew and faint struck match. The palate is intense and with a fine acidity and minerally character defining it through its linear range. Beautifully integrated and tightly coiled before releasing through to a sustained finish. A wine that will really show its true worth in another few years.
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Moss Wood Chardonnay
One of the best chardies yet from Moss Wood, and that’s saying something with the quality of wines over the years. The nose is an immediately captivating combo of lemon curd, quince and cashew with just a subtle lift of zest. The palate has a sprightly energy with a crisp chalky acidity sustaining and focussing through to a very long finish, The winemaking approach is fairly simple with no wild yeasts, but the result is outstanding.
97 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Mount Mary Chardonnay
The 2023 Chardonnay is nutty and restrained, with a salty splay of acidity through the middle palate and finish. The wine is creamy, layered and sophisticated, and it is shaped by taut phenolics that support the abundance of fruit flavour in the mouth. After just one sip at the beginning of this note, the flavors and chalky texture can still be felt. An excellent wine each year, this 2023 no exception. There are notes of biscotti, spiced almonds, cashew, white peach, sea salt and stewed apple. What a gorgeous wine this is. It is harmonious.
97 Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
20% whole-bunch pressed, the balance crushed and destemmed. Matured in French puncheons and barriques (30% new) for 11 months. A concentrated Mount Mary Chardonnay where the volume has been turned up in '23! An intense bouquet of white peach, confit lemon, fresh vanilla bean and oyster shells. There's a lot going on and this follows perfectly onto the mouth-filling, powerful, structured and harmonious palate. This will give pleasure for at least 10 if not 15-plus years.
97 Points, Philip Rich, winecompanion.com.au
2023 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay
The 2022 Yattarna Chardonnay comprises fruit from Tumbarumba (61%), Tasmania (particularly Coal River Valley, 26%) and the balance from the Adelaide Hills. This wine ages slowly and gracefully, and I love it for that. The phenolics frame a powerful core of fruit that is at once streamlined and wide. It blankets the mouth and persists long after the wine is gone. At this stage, it feels inchoate in its development: tiny fish hooks of texture and a frisky sort of acid line both indicate that the wine has some time to go before it fully realizes its potential. This is forever the blue-chip investment in this collection for my taste, and there is a perpetually seamless cohesion of malolactic fermentation into the wine. The Yattarna is fully inoculated with estate-developed yeast strains, built in conjunction over time with the AWRI.
97+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The 2021 was an absolute beauty and Penfolds white winemaker Kym Schroeter has managed to craft an equally impressive multi-regional chardonnay from 2022 as a follow-up. It's all filagreed nuance and tension with pure citrus and fleshy stone fruits, cut with hints of soft spice, créme frâiche, oatmeal, grilled nuts, lemon curd, marzipan, lemongrass, oyster shell and river stone. It shows a pitch perfect textural sway, with a touch of pith, a fine, filagreed acid profile and a long finish with tones of softly spoken oak spice, almond meal, citrus and grilled nuts. A wonderful release.
97 Points, Dave Brookes, winecompanion.com.au
This is a combination of Tumbarumba, Tasmania Adelaide Hills fruit. The Tumbarumba input of 61% results from this region having one of its greatest ever vintages. It’s quite a departure from previous vintages which have been predominantly Tasmanian fruit. There are aromas of cut hay and lemon curd with dried herbs and savoury water cracker character. The palate is deeply intense and powerful with its driving middle taking it to a very long finish. There are intriguing notes of watermelon and custard on the palate.
97 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Pierro Chardonnay
Ray Jordan White Wine of the Year 2025
From one of Margaret River’s great chardonnay producers, this is yet another brilliant example of the style that has made Pierro so admired. You wouldn’t guess it came from a warm year—it’s delicate and fine, with a pristine brightness. The nose shows light grapefruit, citrus, a touch of butterscotch, and a subtle mealy note in the background. The palate has real zing, with lively, pristine acidity driving through to a sustained finish. A chalky, minerally edge adds to the linear feel and precision. Another outstanding Pierro chardonnay.
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Redbrook Estate Reserve Chardonnay
This is so fine and pure, with a real zing to it, evident from the nose through to the palate. Minerally sea spray, slightly saline characters on the nose, with a little grapefruit and citrus nuance. Palate is supremely integrated with a fine lingering savoury line that carries to a long finish. Oak and fruit balance is superb, and it displays a degree of delicacy, but there is an immense power pack that sits within. Love that slightly chalky crunch to the finish.
96 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2023 Stella Bella Wines Suckfizzle Chardonnay
From one of Australia's consistently great producers, the latest vintage of the memorably named Suckfizzle entices from first sniff with pithy aromas of grapefruit and melon rind. There's salty seashell and toast notes, and a subtle struck match character. The acidity shines like a beacon, bringing flavors and textures together into one elegant yet powerful wine that pulses to a long finish. It drinks beautifully now but could cellar for at least a decade.
97 Points, Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
2023 Tolpuddle Chardonnay
James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2024
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Young White - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Tasmanian Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion
Gold Medal & 97/100 points - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Gold Medal – 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Gold Medal - 2024 International Wine & Spirits Awards
It seems a gross understatement to say that Tolpuddle has been in fine form as of late, but they have knocked it out the park again with this release from the cooler '23 vintage. The palest of straw in the glass, the aromas crisp and filigreed. Citrus, white peach and nectarine cut with glorious wisps of struck match and flinty complexity. Grilled hazelnuts, deftly-judged vanillin oak, lardo, white flowers, crushed riverstone, clotted cream and sea spray. The wine envelops the imbiber; flavours precise and pure with an umami-rich, mineral cadence, dreamy texture and daubs of spiced oatmeal, grilled peaches and flint. The finish is sustained, the only thing unresolved the need for another (larger?) bottle. An outstanding Australian chardonnay. Drink by 2032.
98 Points - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion and Special Value Wine
2023 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay
White Wine of the Year - 2026 Halliday Wine Companion
Chardonnay of the Year - 2026 Halliday Wine Companion
White Wine of the Year - Ray Jordan 2026 WA Wine Review
Chardonnay of the Year - Ray Jordan 2026 WA Wine Review
2026 White Wine of the Year, Chardonnay of the Year. Score awarded by the Halliday tasting panel at the annual Awards judging. JF writes: When it comes to the best of the best, provenance is paramount. And taste memory utmost, especially when tasting Heytesbury made under Virginia Willcock’s tutelage (in ’26 she clocks up 20 years as chief winemaker at Vasse Felix, during which time she has transformed chardonnay in the region and beyond). Her influence is here in this wine, and ’23 will be known as one of the finest. It's hard to explain because it’s still very tightly wound, yet it has depth and volume. Oscillating between power and refinement, intensity and pure drinking pleasure. Grapefruit, Meyer lemon, a crushed oyster shell note, flinty, moreish sulphides, texture, mouth-watering, pure acidity and so much more besides. Nothing else to say other than that this is outstanding.
99 Points, Jane Faulkner, winecompanion.com.au
Yes, there is that distinctive acid line that defines Heytesbury, but this year more generous and opulent fruit fills the palate. From the Gingin clone, with 52% new French oak and wild yeast fermentation. Aromas strike with urgency: powerful notes of savoury honeycomb, stone fruit, and floral fragrance. The palate is textured with a lovely lightness of touch that carries powerfully through to a very long finish. One of the very best in this illustrious line.
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
A stunning chardonnay, which is in a great place right now. Super-complex with an appealing level of flinty reduction overlying Gin Gin grapefruit aromas augmented by hints of toasted almond, white peach, lemon and slaty minerality. Profound flavour, lush, rich and powerful, a very impressive chardonnay that's great to drink now and will reward ageing. (100% Gin Gin clone, wild fermented)
98 Points, Huon Hooke, therealreview.com
The 2023 Heytesbury Chardonnay reveals all the poise and balance we expect from the season. It is awesome. This feels totally weighted on the back palate. The fruit intensity, coupled with powerful acidity and phenolic presence, fully penetrates beyond mere "flavour experience" and dives deep into the senses; the only option left is to ride that wave until it slowly fades. It's a persistent, sophisticated wine of latent power and patience. While this is released two years from harvest, it doesn't start to show its complex potential until around five years from harvest and far beyond that. It's slow to emerge and slow to age. This is a 100% Gingin clone Chardonnay, matured in French oak barriques, 52% new, for nine months, with seven months blended in tank prior to bottling.
97+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
2023 Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay
The two premium Chardonnays at Xanadu, the Reserve and the Stevens, are distinct both in expression and makeup. While the single-vineyard Steven's Road Chardonnay is often the finer of the two, the Reserve exhibits more pronounced oak, and it's a more powerful rendition. Philosophically, the latter is a blend of vineyards, although it often comes from just the Lagan Vineyard, next to the winery/cellar door. As to my preferred wine, it depends on the vintage conditions as to which takes my fancy each year. This 2023 Reserve Chardonnay hails from the most magnificent 2023 season, which was mild, long and dry. The fruit power here is undeniable. Every aspect of this wine is ratcheted up to 11: acidity, fruit power, volume, length ... the full kit and caboodle. It's a sleeping giant. The wine will mostly be consumed in its youth, but the act of so doing robs the wine of its future potential, which is a shame.
97+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The ’23 vintage is turning out to be a very special one in Margaret River both with chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, but let’s stay with the former here. This is a humdinger. Sure it’s tightly wound, given its youth and all the electrifying acidity within, but there’s substance and depth, too. A little waxy, refined, with grapefruit, lemon, ginger spice, a dash of oak spices (the 20% new French oak superbly integrated) and a little yuzu tonic water pucker. It’s linear, long, with moreish sulphides, the merest hint of creamy lees and almost a savoury overlay. Brilliant.
97 Points, Jane Faulkner, winecompanion.com.au