An Australian Chardonnay Tasting

Recently I had the opportunity to taste ten Australian Chardonnays at one of my local fine wine stores.  An interesting selection with a range of wine styles including a “natty” number – not my fave.  The wines came from a variety of regions: two from Tasmania, four from Victoria, two from the Adelaide Hills and two from Margaret River.  Pricewise they ranged from AUD 50-180.  Three of the wines stood out for me.

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2024 – Geelong VIC

It initially had a touch of VA which quickly blew off.  Then aromas of wild herbs and garrigue came through.  I found this wine quite round in the mouth with flavours of ripe stone fruit - peach and white nectarine - hitting my palate.  It was a well made, integrated wine and balanced wine with an oak backbone that did not overwhelm.

Rating: Delish    Price AUD 73

L.A.S. Vino Wildberry Springs Chardonnay 2024 – Margaret River

I loved the nose of this wine – really complex and strong aromatics with mandarin, tangerine and a slight whiff of orange pith – lots of citrus notes.  Disappointingly the taste did not follow through on the promise shown with such a good nose.  The oak was there but not obvious, unlike many Margaret River Chardonnays.  This wine was a real tease but improved as it warmed up.

Rating: Okay     Price: AUD 97

Grosset Piccardilly Chardonnay 2024 – Adelaide Hills

Grosset is a producer whose wines I love drinking (see my earlier blog “A Taste of Grosset”) and sampling this wine reinforced this view.  It had the most concentrated fruit of the ten wines with initial flavours of red apple, pear, underripe nectarine, white grapefruit and a touch of clementine.  White pepper really came through on the back palate.  It was a well balanced and beautifully made wine, and definitely the standout wine of the tasting (and that was not just my view).

Rating:  Bloody Delish       Price AUD 95