The Auswine Forum

With all the madness around the Giaconda 2023 Chardonnay release, I am interested in Australian and Burgundian alternatives at the same price ($160 per bottle) or less.

I am so glad Sorrenberg is still very reasonably priced (ex-mailer) and can be obtained on the mailing list. No saying it is as good as Giaconda, but is is damn good.

I have a pretty good handle on Australian Chardonnay, but very little knowledge on white Burgundy.

I’ll be boring ( or get in first ) and say Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay.

Stelvin and Chardonnay for my palate need a long time for their very best. I’ve found I prefer aged Leeuwin to aged Giaconda by some margin.

I usually take a bottle of Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay or Tyrrell's Vat 47 for special occasion that suit with white wines. I also missed the Giaconda release and keen to try the Beechworth Chardonnay that I haven't tried before.

May I know how can I be included in the mail list of Sorrenberg? What is the normal release price of the Sorrenberg chardonnay? I haven't seen any Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2023 available in the market like Nicks Wines) yet.

AUew wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:26 am I usually take a bottle of Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay or Tyrrell's Vat 47 for special occasion that suit with white wines. I also missed the Giaconda release and keen to try the Beechworth Chardonnay that I haven't tried before.

May I know how can I be included in the mail list of Sorrenberg? What is the normal release price of the Sorrenberg chardonnay? I haven't seen any Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2023 available in the market like Nicks Wines) yet.

Use this link on Sorrenberg's website: https://sorrenberg.com/order-contact/

Just fill in the form and ask to be added to their mailing list.

Last year's Sorrenberg Chardonnay mailing list price was $70, which considering the quality is brilliant value for money.

Thanks so much!

Cullen Kevin John is a little bit more expensive but an incredible wine. Had it blind against a Giaconda and favoured it easily.

I Love Shiraz wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:09 am

AUew wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:26 am I usually take a bottle of Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay or Tyrrell's Vat 47 for special occasion that suit with white wines. I also missed the Giaconda release and keen to try the Beechworth Chardonnay that I haven't tried before.

May I know how can I be included in the mail list of Sorrenberg? What is the normal release price of the Sorrenberg chardonnay? I haven't seen any Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2023 available in the market like Nicks Wines) yet.

Use this link on Sorrenberg's website: https://sorrenberg.com/order-contact/

Just fill in the form and ask to be added to their mailing list.

Last year's Sorrenberg Chardonnay mailing list price was $70, which considering the quality is brilliant value for money.

Yeah you just go to their website or email them to be added to the list and that’s it. Then they’ll send you a few order forms a year for their releases, respond quickly and you’ll be fine. It’s not hugely competitive. The bottles are well priced, great quality and look awesome too

I console myself missing out on Giaconda 3 years in a row by buying Savaterre and Sorrenberg. Amazing Chardonnay’s from Beechworth.

But I’m finding I’m going more towards Yarra Valley Chardonnay these days. Mount Mary, Giant Steps and Oakridge make great wines but Hoddles Creek is my go to now. The Syberia, Road Block and 1’er are great VFM. The Estate is off the charts VFM @ $26 a bottle.

I have always thought the Leeuwin Estate Art Series is our best Chardonnay though. Closely followed by Yattarna. Pierro, Vat 47 and Lakes Folly excellent as well.

Domaine Naturaliste Artus also excellent VFM.

Tolpuddle is great but getting up in price. Sure I’ve missed a couple.

I haven’t got the greatest palate or been exposed to as many great wines as others, but in my wine drinking journey, Australian Chardonnay has never been better. And prices and availability of our top wines are showing that….

Cheers
Ian

Singlefile is a producer I don’t see mentioned much here but do some quality Chardonnay (imo) and have a good range across the price spectrum.

Adelaide Hills have a number of producers who are doing good work too.

My knowledge is very much restricted to the Aus stuff.

Cheers Ed

VinoEd wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:34 am Singlefile is a producer I don’t see mentioned much here but do some quality Chardonnay (imo) and have a good range across the price spectrum.

Adelaide Hills have a number of producers who are doing good work too.

My knowledge is very much restricted to the Aus stuff.

Cheers Ed

Agree on both observations Ed. Singlefile are a very good producer acroos the range.

Adelaide Hills has emerged as one of Australia's premier Chardonnay regions, with excellent wines from Tapanappa, Murdoch Hill, Shaw & Smith/MAD, Gentle Folk, Ashton Hills, and Petaluma.

for wine you can easily access, Mt Lofty Ranges has a tete de cuvee "S and G chardonnay" that I personally prefer to Giaconda. It is made in the Puligny-style, if that helps. It's between $85-90 and is fabulous. It is actually similar to Giaconda, without the absurd amount of gunpowder and with added complexity. Bored wine critics love the reductive style, but then again, bored wine critics were enchanted with Beaujolais Nouveau 40 years ago and 17% Barossa shiraz with 100% new American oak 20 years ago. Fads come and go, but the classics are timeless.

if you prefer a slightly broader style, the under-valued vineyards of Meursault, i.e. those supposed "villages" wines that are only villages and not premier cru because they didn't exist when the classification was made, are fantastic wines, even from the more modest producers. I'm talking Narvaux and Tillets mainly, with Tesson and Chevalieres also only partly planted at the time. Stay away from over-priced producers like Henri Germain, and you can find these sub-$150
But if you have the patience, stick some LEAS or Vat47 in the cellar and watch them shine 15 years later.

Chasing Giaconda is like chasing Liber Pater, some people are desperate to acquire because it is expensive and hard to access, therefore it must be the best. What's actually in the bottle is of secondary importance. And believe me, that applies to about 95% of wine critics.

Good tips Felix !

I think its great that people are talking positively about Australian Chardonnay.

I am not a big drinker of chardonnay, but my go to wines are typically from the Adelaide Hills, they are not block busters or show stoppers, but do the job, recent wines have been Sidewood, Bird In Hand & Goldings.

Any comment for the Domenica Chardonnay or Giaconda Nantua Chardonnay? Langtons has a 6 bottle set of Nantua for sale at $340.

Penfolds Bin A releases. Great value, relatively speaking of course!

AUew wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 6:40 pm Any comment for the Domenica Chardonnay or Giaconda Nantua Chardonnay? Langtons has a 6 bottle set of Nantua for sale at $340.

Domenica Chardonnay is top class. Give it a decant though.

Hmmm..... I wrote a long diatribe on this but got logged out. But in summary though from Beechworth Savaterre, Fighting Gully Smiths Vineyard, Schmolzer and Brown Brunnen and Sentio.
Other regions Voyager, Pierro and anything else with the GinGin clone. And Vat 47.

One I forgot is Domaine Simha Rao is sooo good. Really pure and powerful, should age wonderfully.