Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Much more subtle and complex than the regular chardonnay on the nose, which shows white peppers, dried nutmeg, cloves, dried citrus, white nectarines, cantaloupe melon and loquat. Full-bodied with a lovely interplay of assorted spices on the palate. There are citrus flavors running through the layers of tangy acidity and right up to the long, very mineral-driven finish. Wow. Irresistible now but better in 2025.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Comprised mainly of boutique, family-owned and operated wineries, Geelong is one of the cool coastal wine-growing regions of the Port Phillip Zone of Victoria. Here the elevation and proximity to sea breezes—similar to Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and the southern part of Gippsland—allow the region to produce remarkably vivid Chardonnay Pinot Noir. The elegant Shiraz wines from Geelong also attract attention.