Missed out on Giaconda this year, but between this, the Savaterre and Sorrenberg, I’m still very happy with my high end Chardonnay purchases.
Don't overlook Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay - it's my Giaconda replacement. Even their Bin 311 with a few years bottle-age are pretty handy.
At its price point, which is still not cheap, it might be the best value wine Penfolds makes.
I don’t buy Penfolds reds, but I do buy the whites. Yes, the Bin A is exceptional and I have a few vintages in the cellar. I also have maybe 6-8 bottles of various vintages of Yattarna. Very underrated and IMHO it’s one of Australia’s best Chardonnays. But it’s just getting a bit pricey now. A ‘96 we had a couple of years back was my WWOTY, just stunning. Subsequent bottles have been well past it. As the saying goes, no great wines, just great bottles.
I have quite a bit of Bin 311 as well. When it gets discounted on cellardoor.com, it’s a no brainer. Drinking ‘17’s now and they are exceptional.
Chardonnay used to be a great value for money grape in Australia but as its popularity has increased with better winemaking, prices are quite substantially on the rise for the better examples. But when you can buy Chardonnays like the Hoddles Creek Estate for $26, the 1’er and single vineyards for $70 (many other great value Chardonnays too), there is still good buying out there.
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Interesting, I have several vintages of Bin 51 Riesling.
I was completely underwhelmed by the 2025 offering and having now tried The Merle 2025 vintage last week and some recent Crawford River's, it's blown into the weeds. If it comes on special may have another look
A few bottles of 2022 Penley Estate Helios, another picked over carcass, as the winery is on the market.
A few bottles of 2024 Crawford River Riesling...stunning wine!!
Don't overlook Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay - it's my Giaconda replacement. Even their Bin 311 with a few years bottle-age are pretty handy.
At its price point, which is still not cheap, it might be the best value wine Penfolds makes.
I don’t buy Penfolds reds, but I do buy the whites. Yes, the Bin A is exceptional and I have a few vintages in the cellar. I also have maybe 6-8 bottles of various vintages of Yattarna. Very underrated and IMHO it’s one of Australia’s best Chardonnays. But it’s just getting a bit pricey now. A ‘96 we had a couple of years back was my WWOTY, just stunning. Subsequent bottles have been well past it. As the saying goes, no great wines, just great bottles.
I have quite a bit of Bin 311 as well. When it gets discounted on cellardoor.com, it’s a no brainer. Drinking ‘17’s now and they are exceptional.
Chardonnay used to be a great value for money grape in Australia but as its popularity has increased with better winemaking, prices are quite substantially on the rise for the better examples. But when you can buy Chardonnays like the Hoddles Creek Estate for $26, the 1’er and single vineyards for $70 (many other great value Chardonnays too), there is still good buying out there.
I agree, while everyone is going ga-ga over Grenache - saw one recently for $250!- Chardonnay currently is the value white, with Riesling of course.
Heggies Chardonnay is our house Chardonnay at the moment.
Also, and an important also, Giaconda, on a world stage is cheap. It's great to see great Australian Chardonnays, Pinots, Cabernets, Shiraz', Rieslings and of course Rutherglen Muscats and Tokay, do well on international stages. It helps make up for dross we send over O/S in boatloads.
