What do you think is the best Chardonnay

[tonym]

Regardless of price what wine would you consider has the reputation of the best Aussie Chardonnay? Giaconda, Leeuwin or some other. I realise its a subjective thing as everyone has a different idea of what is better so it would be interesting to see what people think

[Michael R]

Thanks Tony, wonderful question, i'm a keen Chardonnay drinker and v interested to hear peoples thoughts.
Rather than get detailed, or vintage specific etc, here's my general view....ranked in order.

1. Giaconda
2. Main Ridge
3. Yattarna...just beats the Bin A based on some quality aged examples drunk recently
4. Penfolds Bin A
5 Leeuwin
6. Eileen Hardy
7. Oakridge

Loads of other stuff competing to complete my Top 10, including..., Dalwhinnie, Moss Wood, Curly Flat, some Bannockburn, Wantirna, Delamere etc etc, but the 7 above would be my clear favourites.

[AaronL]

Aussie Chardonnay that has the best reputation. Pick from:

Giaconda
Leeuwin
Yattarna

Now for Aussie Chardonnay that is actually the best from Australia, well that's an entirely different question

[ticklenow1]

I'll only comment on what I've tried but here goes.

1. Leeuwin Estate Art Series - Simply stunning.
2. Pierro - just pipped by the Leeuwin.
3. Mount Mary - different style but amazing all the same.
4. Stonier Reserve Chardonnay - has always impressed me.
5. Stefano Lubiana - An old favourite that is always good.

Plus Chain of Ponds made one called "The Morning Star". I think it was only made once or twice and I bought a dozen of the '01's. Terrific wine.

Cheers
Ian

[Craig(NZ)]

For me based on a few blind tastings I've attended

Yattarna
Leeuwin
Giaconda

Great wines but expensive. Neudorf at half the price or Kumeu River Mates

[Cloth Ears]

I like some of the Leeuwin Art, Main Ridge, 10 Minutes by Tractor (just across the road from Main Ridge).

But I've been slow to forgive the excesses of the 80's, where you used to be just able to taste some chardonnay in amongst the oil & oak that was stuffed into those bottles. So I sometimes will taste a new chardy, but often I'll leave them alone as a result of the 80's experience.

[tonym]

quite a few different opinions, so many to try. I have tried the Leeuwin Art series and the Penfolds Yattarna and would say the Leeuwin is at this stage my favourite, found the Vasse Felix Heytsbury was a great wine also. I am currently saving my pennies to buy a bottle of Giaconda so soon I will try it also. My memories of the eighties is of Rosemount Estate chardonnay full of oak and Wynns Black label Spumanti that was on the wine list at Pizza Hut ( I wasnt into wine then)

[via collins]

1. LEAS
2. Cullen Kevin John
3. Giaconda
4. Take your pick from the endless great MP or YV producers.

Sensational chardonnays at all price points here - welcome to the lucky country!

[Waiters Friend]

I second via collins' mention of the Cullen Kevin John. Better than LEAS in my humble opinion.

[Scotty vino]

I tried then purchased a 2005 Grosset Piccadilly Chardonnay the other day and that is one of the best I've had.
Mind you I've not tried Giaconda, Yattarna or Leeuwin Chardonnays. Based on all posted opinion I'm sure they are quite dandy indeed.
I do have some 06 art series chardonnay lying in wait which may give me a better yard stick on 'premium' chardonnays.
A ways back I had an 04/05(?) Laurence of Margaret River chardonnay which was right up there for me.

[tarija]

In terms of track record over a long period, and high peaks, it's Giaconda or Leeuwin Estate Art, then daylight.

[AaronL]

I am currently saving my pennies to buy a bottle of Giaconda so soon I will try it also.

Depedning on your budget, you may be better off chasing some of the under rated (cheaper), giant killer chardonnay like:

Hoddles Creek 1er (even the standard is brilliant)
Evoi
Barwang 842
PIcardy

which would all give the top tiers a run for the money in the short term, but if you want to be drinking these at 10 years, then that's where your extra dollars for Giaconda, Leeuwin et al are going to.

[TiggerK]

For me, from those I've tried, and IMHO, 1,5 and 6 generally blow the cheapies away whether young or old.

1. Giaconda (tonym, try to get an 08 from somewhere, anywhere)
2. Yattarna (with some age, good storage and cork success)
3. Leeuwin AS (although more vintage dependent)
4. Bannockburn SRH (based on the 06), the standard label very good too.
5. Cullen Kevin John
6. Tyrrells Vat 47

Cheers
Tim

[Boyeah]

Petaluma Tiers
Epis
Gioconda
Lake Folly
Shaw & Smith M3
Wantirna Isabella
cheers
Boyeah

[Panda 9D]

I'd put Michael Hall's up there.

[rosewaterwrx]

I won't comment on reputation because I don't really know or care to be honest. I'm a bit oak-aphobic when it comes to Australian Chardonnay but going on the wow moments I've had in the last couple of years and based on my very limited tasting experience my best Australian Chardonnay's would be

Giaconda -Had a glass of the 2010 and found it to be extremely tight and hard going. Recently had a glass of the 2011 at EEC in Adelaide. It was a light bulb moment putting the potential of the 2010 in context...despite it being a younger wine. WOW. I'd have to say it's the best glass of Australian Chardonnay I've ever had

Yabby Lake - Both 2010 and 2011 Estate wines are fantastic and stood out from the pack amongst the rest of the upper tier wines at the last Adelaide wine show (which drunk at room temp all seemed far too oaky for me)

Yattarna - Only tried a couple of glasses but have been extremely impressed each time

Penfolds 10a - Found the 08a took a 2nd day to hit it's straps whereas I found this to be a stunning wine from the get go. I'd love to try a few more vintages.

Yarra Yering Chardonnay - Hit and miss but when it hits it's amazing (09)

Voyager- I often find the spicy oak a little much but for the price and in more subtle vintages it can't be beaten.(07 being the best I've tried)

Hoddles Creek - Sipping a 2012 Estate now....$19.....yes please

Shaw and Smith - Again oak can get in the way at times but when it hits the mark it's stunning. ( I loved the
and hold high hopes for the 2012)

I personally find Lueewin too oaky although recent vintages are apparently more balanced in this respect so I may have to take a punt again.

[Mahmoud Ali]

What do I think is the best Chardonnay? For me the most memorable ones are those that are properly aged and cellared.

Years ago, and I mean years ago, I recall enjoying a 9 year-old '85 Rosemount Show Reserve Chardonnay. Although it was an example of the over-oaked style of that decade bottle age made for a very nice first course wine at a dinner party.

More recently the best Aussie Chardonnays that I've had were a 1990 Balgownie (all of 11% alc/vol and remarkable) opened in 2009/10 and a 1995 Tyrrell's Vat 47 opened in 2004.

Mahmoud.

PS: I think I posted a note on the '90 Balgownie on the Auswine Forum.

[Alan Foo]

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
Stonier Reserve Chardonnay

My two all time favorite

Alan

[Mivvy]

Hardy's Eileen
Hillcrest Premium
Moorooduc Estate - The Moorooduc
LEAS

Also Voyager Estate and Hoddles Creek great value.

Not had any Giaconda or Yattarna.

Going slightly off topic from NZ also love Pyramid Valley Fields of Fire and Kumeu River Mate's.

[TiggerK]

Going slightly off topic from NZ also love Pyramid Valley Fields of Fire and Kumeu River Mate's.

Most definitely, plus Neudorf Moutere (& Bell HIll, but not tried myself). But next people will start listing US stuff and White Burg.... brace yourself!

[tonym]

I believe some of the NZ chardonnays and Rieslings are great wines but they are hard to come by in my area, the place is flooded with cheap sauvignon blanc.

[scribbler]

My votes are
1. Mount Mary - very ageworthy
2. LEAS - but wish the alcohols were a touch lower
3. Oakridge - since 2006
4. Bannockburn SRH (the 2006 is stunning, so is the 2001)

Giaconda can be thrilling, but have had soem disappointments too

[Michael R]

Totally forgot Mount Mary!

Would definitely have it in my earlier Top 5, ahead of LEAS. Agree on ageworthy comment, had some 99, 02 and 04s in the last few years, all showing wonderfully.
Alas a 2000 a few months ago was bit affected (auction buy).

Updated list, in order
1. Giaconda
2. Main Ridge
3. Yattarna...just beats the Bin A based on some quality aged examples drunk recently
4. Penfolds Bin A
5. Mount Mary

To further stir the non-Aussie pot....+3 on the Pyramid Valley (Fields fo Fire), Kumeu chards...love them, and worth seeking out Tony.
Ps...i'm a Giaconda advocate, so excuse the bias, but they honestly blow anything mid-tier off the table IMO. Agree on the tip to consider which vintage you try first. The 2010 is perhaps a tricky one to start on. Unfortunately the sexy 2008s have since ballooned in price, 2011 or 2006 should be less expensive but still give you the experience you're looking for.

Shout if you're in Sydney, and we'll try to get you along to a Grape mates Chardy tasting, bound to be alot of the wines listed above on show....hmmmm Aussie Chardy tasting, surely due one soon

[Polymer]

Lethbridge Allegra

[Mike Hawkins]

I'm going to rain on the Giaconda parade. I'm not convinced they reach the same height as others do at 5+ years. Sure, they look good young, but..........

[dave vino]

1. Giaconda
2. Yattarna
3. LEAS
4. Main Ridge
5. Moss Wood
6. Pierro
7. Mount Mary
8. VAT 47

[Michael R]

Rain away Mike... I can fully understand anyone who doesn't like Giaconda, ...in fact I'm surprised it hasn't received more slack.

[odyssey]

Not going to rehash the above lists as they are all good.

But I would like to make a mention of Voyager Estate, it has become a bit of a go-to chardonnay for me for the price. It falls into the "needs bottle age" group though.

[cuttlefish]

I found the Voyager one I had recently to be lacking individuality.
Pierro I liked the '09.
The Cullen one is great.
I don't have too much experience with Leeuwin to judge it.
I've had one or two great aged (15+ years) Vat 47's that were fantastic, but not earth shattering.
I've had the '04 Mount Mary only 2 or 3 years ago, and that seemed young to me so anything could be possible with that one.
It had brutal structure.
Giaconda I had somewhere between '02 and '05 (can't recall exactly which) and that looked really impressive.
I've been impressed by M3 (Shaw & Smith)
I think Cistercia should get a mention here. No longer made, and the style it was made in seems to have been abandoned.
The Penfolds BinA is a fav. of mine when I've had it. Better than Yattarna's for me.
Heytesbury, Marchand&Burch, Dalwhinnie, Savaterre, are all standouts for me, too.
Not a lot of mention of anything from Tassie here, which kinda surprises me, but I can't think of any. Can anyone else ?

[Waiters Friend]

I found the Voyager one I had recently to be lacking individuality.
Not a lot of mention of anything from Tassie here, which kinda surprises me, but I can't think of any. Can anyone else ?

Yep - sure can. Frogmore Creek's reserve has been fabulous, esp the 2005 in its day (up to 2012)