The Auswine Forum

Curious to know which Chardonnays people find as the best that Australia has to offer. Obviously it depends on a stylistic preference (bolder with more Malo Vs leaner and more mineral) but perhaps fair to say that there's a consensus on some (Leeuwin Art Series, Giaconda spring to mind). What are your favourite chardonnays?

Mine, in no particular order, a top 10 if you will:

1. Giaconda
2. Pierro
3. Leeuwin Art Series
4. Tolpuddle
5. Fermoy Estate Reserve
6. By Farr GC Cote
7. Stoney Rise Holyman
8. Sorrenberg
9. Penfolds Yattarna
10. Cape Mentelle


People may find my selection of the Mentelle a tad unusual but I find it great year in year out, akin to a Chardonnay version of the Wynn's Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon.

Great thread and will be following as I’m not so experienced with modern Aussie Chardonnay.

Yattarna has been quit age-worthy in my experience as has Giaconda

Yes I like Yattarna as well.
I think there's a lot of variety in Australia with regards to styles and that's not just a function of taste but also ageability. I think whilst Giaconda ages well, I'm not convinced Sorrenberg does despite being from Beechworth as well.

I notice my list has nothing from the Huntee Valley or Yarra Valley.

A few more that I'm a fan of:

Cullen Kevin John
Toolangi Block F
Freycinet Vineyard
Garagiste Terre Maritime
Moorooduc

Andrew

The good thing about Australian Chardonnay is that there are differing styles and the quality is high. Personal favourites include

Tarrington
Yabby Lake Single Block(and single vineyard in good years)
Bobar
Latta Vino Jurassique
Flamtree STS
Brash Higgins Bloom
Cobaw Ridge
Vasse Felix Heytesburry
Penfolds BinA Series

Tapanappa one not mentioned so far which I think is very good off the few tastings I’ve had.

I do find it hard to go past the Margaret River classics though.

Dragzworthy wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 12:37 pm I think whilst Giaconda ages well, I'm not convinced Sorrenberg does despite being from Beechworth as well.

I'm with you on the Sorrenberg - love the wine, but not convinced it will age as well as others.

I'd add Vasse Felix Heytesbury and Howard Park Allingham to the mix.

Any fans of the Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay from Mornington Peninsula? Not at the same level as many of those cited already, but the 2018 was very enjoyable at a good price.

Not had the Montalto Pennon Hill... I've had their basic level Chardonnay and that was good but a step away from excellent.

There's actually quite a few I've not had: Tappanappa, Cobaw Ridge, Bobar, Tarrington, Latta Vin Jurassique, Garagiste Terre Maritime etc. I may struggle to find these where I am (Singapore) but I'll keep them on the list for when I get back.

Its surprising to see the equivalent of Woolworths here stocks the Stoney Rise Holyman Chardonnay

Dragzworthy wrote: ↑Sun May 01, 2022 12:37 pmI notice my list has nothing from the Huntee Valley or Yarra Valley.

I would have thought that Tyrrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay would have been a candidate for consideration. Furthermore they age really well, as evidenced by a 1995 Vat 47 that was drinking beautifully a couple of years ago.

Yes I have only ever had this wine on one occasion, if was the 2012 vintage back in December 2019. My notes indicated that I enjoyed it but it wasn't remarkable. Perhaps I should try and seek out some more.

What would the other top end Hunter Chardonnays be? I recall Lakes Folly make one.

nice list.
for me, Chardonnay is Australia's best variety, many world class wines.
Leeuwin Estate my number one, Giaconda has slipped appreciably over the past 5-7 years, and is hanging on courtesy of it's reputation and lazy wine critics. Best in the Beechworth region now Sorrenberg, as mentioned, and Savaterre, which should be on anyone's shopping list. The 2019 Savaterre is maybe the best Victorian chardonnay I have yet seen.
Margaret River the go-to area, then Beechworth, then Tassie, mainly up North.

I'd also add Flametree SRS Walcliffe to the list of Aussie greats, not many vintages thus far, but another excitement machine out of the Margaret River.

What would you say are the better less known Margaret River Chardonnays?

For me the Fermoy Estate was outstanding but I struggle to find it

Bindi Quartz?
Mount Mary?

I confess, am I a luddite? I think I have maybe 1 bottle of Chardy in the cellar...way too much good Riesling and Semillon
I had a bottle of Petaluma Tiers a couple of weeks ago, was very nice, courtesy of a friend...shocked when I found out the price, $120 or thereabouts!!
Smashed though by a 2012 JB Florita
Cheers Craig

Dragzworthy wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 8:08 pm What would you say are the better less known Margaret River Chardonnays?

Devil's Lair. Just days after I bought some 2013 Devil's Lair Chardonnay my friend served me the 2012 vintage. I was impressed and thought that it was worthy of putting away.

I have always loved Dave's 864 from Oakridge.
MM and YY always good

grosset piccadilly.
Pretty consistent had a few of these.

I am not really into Chardonnay that much, probably because I generally get underwhelmed with it, or it could be just my preference for the higher acidity Rieslings, hence looking at these posts with interest for suggestions.

One the best examples I have had was a 2015 Tumbarumba Chardonnay from the Courabyra Vineyard. No oak, no malo. It was 'minerally', and complex.

Been buying the odd 6-pack of Penfolds BinA when the price is right. The 17A is probably one of the great Australian Chardonnays at present.

For me, the Leeuwin Art Series is still head and shoulders above the rest for constant quality. But the next best to my tastes are (not in order):
Mount Mary
Pierro
Hoddles Creek Syberia
Sorrenberg
Cobaw Ridge
Shaw and Smith M3
Domaine Naturiste Artus
Dappled Single Vineyard
Holyman

Cheers
Ian

LEAS is the best IMO, but several of the ‘A’ series by Penfolds are outstanding.Even better than Yattarna most years for my tastes.

Yattarna is the best for my taste , followed by tolpuddle, bindi , yabby lake , pierro and (giaconda which used to be clearly ahead but has dropped off in recent years)


Chardonnay and shiraz along with sticky’s are Australia’s strongest wines on a world scale after shiraz cab blends

platinum wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 1:41 am Yattarna is the best for my taste , followed by tolpuddle, bindi , yabby lake , pierro and (giaconda which used to be clearly ahead but has dropped off in recent years)


Chardonnay and shiraz along with sticky’s are Australia’s strongest wines on a world scale after shiraz cab blends

That's the second or third mention of yabby lake so definitely need to try that.. actually not sure why but I've only really had (and thoroughly enjoyed) their Pinot Noir wines.

I also agree with regards to Chardonnay being one of the best varietal in Australia. There is an interesting article in the Age today though suggesting this is vulnerable to change in the next decade as a result of Global Warming affect our climate change.

platinum wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 1:41 am Yattarna is the best for my taste , followed by tolpuddle, bindi , yabby lake , pierro and (giaconda which used to be clearly ahead but has dropped off in recent years)


Chardonnay and shiraz along with sticky’s are Australia’s strongest wines on a world scale after shiraz cab blends

Let's not forget Hunter sem.

platinum wrote: ↑Sun May 08, 2022 1:41 am Yattarna is the best for my taste , followed by tolpuddle, bindi , yabby lake , pierro and (giaconda which used to be clearly ahead but has dropped off in recent years)


Chardonnay and shiraz along with sticky’s are Australia’s strongest wines on a world scale after shiraz cab blends

With Yattarna, whilst a bloody good Chardonnay, I feel you're paying a premium for 'the story', as with Grange.
I've always thought RWT was a better buy.
With LEAS Chardonnay, does anyone pick up rather strange secondary flavours with bottle-age. It doesn't seem to be varietal and is certainly not oak?

Dragzworthy wrote: ↑Wed May 04, 2022 8:08 pm What would you say are the better less known Margaret River Chardonnays?

For me the Fermoy Estate was outstanding but I struggle to find it

I'm really out of touch with many newer producers now. I just don't get to many tastings any more, so the breadth of my experience has dwindled...
My little list of Margaret River producers that make decent Chardonnay
Leeuwin Estate (both Art Series and Prelude)
Vasse Felix (both Heytesbury and Estate)
Voyager Estate
Pierro
Flametree SRS
Cherubino
Cape Grace
Brookland Valley (used to make an Estate version and a Reserve version)
Howard Park (Estate and Reserve)
Cullen
Moss Wood can be very good
Stella Bella
Clairault Streicker (Ironstone Block in particular)
Deep Woods
Juniper Estate
I could continue this list, there are just so many!
There are a number of very prolific consultant/contract winemakers showing off their considerable skills in Margaret River, and it can pay to follow them closely. Mark Messenger is one such individual, Mark Warren another, and Bruce Dukes, but I'm pretty sure there are others with the Midas' touch

If we had to narrow down to our top 3 Chardonnays, what would they be?
A clear winner might emerge.

I'll start;
Penfolds Bin A
Giaconda
Apsley Gorge

I don’t have the exposure to make a definitive list. Never heard of Apsley ( gives an idea how out of the loop I’ve been ).

I’ve liked Cobaw Ridge and an accidental favourite, Craiglee, which has aged well under the premise of little expectation.

Penfolds Bin A
Leeuwin Art Series
Giaconda

Not in that order, necessarily